KOTA KINABALU: Assistance will be given to schools in Sabah, vernacular or otherwise, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman said.
This is in line with the state government’s commitment in assisting the federal government, especially the Education Ministry, to produce quality human capital that is successful and knowledgeable, he said in a speech delivered by Minister of Special Tasks Datuk Teo Chee Kang at Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School’s anniversary cum launching of its student hostel yesterday.
Musa also lauded the school board and the committee members of the Persatuan Hakka Kota Kinabalu for their hard work in ensuring that the students excel both academically and in their co-curriculum.
“I am impressed by the Persatuan Hakka Kota Kinabalu’s and Tshung Tsin Secondary Scool’s hard work towards realizing their dreams and aspirations in spearheading the development of independent schools in the state.
“It is therefore not only important for the school to defend and maintain its five star standard in the academic and co-curriculum fields, it must also improve its performance in the future,” he said.
In this context, Musa added that the state government would continue to assist all schools in Sabah whether vernacular or otherwise towards the success of their education agenda.
He disclosed that the Sabah government is the government which allocates the highest amount of funds to independent schools in the state and the amount increases annually.
“On behalf of the state Government, I wish to congratulate the committee members of the Persatuan Hakka Kota Kinabalu and Tshung Tsin Secondary School for completing the five-storey hostel building. The completion of the building shows that the funds channelled by the state government for the project was fully utilized.
“I believe with the student hostel Tshung Tsin Secondary School now has the facility to accommodate the needs of its students from outside Kota Kinabalu as well as those from outside the country,” Musa said.
Meanwhile Teo, who was met after the ceremony, said that the event was very meaningful as he was a former student of Tshung Tsin Secondary School.
“I was a student here 30 years ago. I was also involved in the 20 years anniversary celebration in 1985,” he said, adding that Chinese independent schools throughout the country have produced high quality human resources who are now employed in various sectors and contributing to the community and country’s development.
“With such achievement, independent Chinese schools in Malaysia are part of the country’s main education sector. We have high hopes that these schools can assist the government to produce more human capital who will participate in the development of the country,” he added.
According to Tshung Tsin Secondary School Board chairman Datuk Jimmy Yong Kyok Ming, the new hostel building which took 18 months to complete costs more than RM6 million and can accommodate 250 students.
“We are now waiting for Occupational Certificate to be issued and are aiming to have it operational by next year,” he said, adding that the current temporary hostel houses about 80 students.
The temporary hostel will later be converted into class rooms, he disclosed, adding that with the new classrooms, Tshung Tsin Secondary School can see an increase to its current 2,456 students, of which 10 per cent are local bumiputeras.
During the ceremony Yong also announced a RM1 million donation from a local philanthropist who is based in Hong Kong.
John Chin, according to Yong is not a Tshung Tsin alumni but is a strong supporter of the school.
The businessman had also donated RM600,000 towards to the Institute Sinaran Building Fund.