SMK Agama Sibu raises RM100,000 for school hall project

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Salemah (third right) joins (from right) Mohamad Safree, Hosmawati, Abdul Mutalib and Tai in the opening gimmick of SMK Agama Sibu PTA charity dinner. At left is Mohd Rizal.

SIBU: SMK Agama Sibu is inching closer towards realising its dream of having a hall to cater for its 605 students, having raised RM80,000 from its inaugural charity dinner on Saturday.

According the school’s parent-teacher association (PTA) chairman Mohamad Safree Mohamad Kassim, the cost to construct the multi-purpose hall is estimated to be at RM800,000.

For the record, SMK Agama is the only secondary school here that is without such facility.

“We raised RM80,000 from the SMK Agama Sibu PTA charity dinner, while another RM20,000 was from public donation – altogether, we collected RM100,000. We have achieved our target of getting 80 tables (taken up) and appreciated all those who had chipped in for a good cause.

“We will seek assistance from the Ministry of Education and state Education Department, as well as from corporate bodies and elected people’s representatives in Sarawak to top up (the amount of RM800,000).

“It is high time for the school to have its own hall to cater for the needs of the growing student population,” he told reporters after the charity dinner, where Sibu District Education deputy officer Salemah Chali officiated at the opening.

Meanwhile, SMK Agama Sibu principal Hosmawati Bairi said the school was established in 1985. She observed that while there is an open space for them to use, it is not conducive to having assemblies and other activities due to space constraint and also students could get wet during rainy days.

“There is a need for a school hall where we can hold our weekly assembly.

“Additionally, in line with the 21st century education where we are to conduct teaching and learning outside the classroom, having a school hall would provide a suitable and comfortable environment to carry out these activities.

“Actually, we envy other schools in Sibu that have their own facilities,” said Hosmawati, who is still new to the school.

According to her, a proposal has been submitted to the ministry requesting for federal allocation and they are awaiting its response.

On a related matter, Mohamad Safree urged parents to continue supporting the activities run by the PTA towards bringing the school to greater heights.

In her speech, Salemah said SMK Agama PTA is indeed playing a key role in boosting the academic performance and achievements of the school.

The dinner was also attended by Sibu District Education Office’s Islamic Education Unit supervisor Mohd Rizal Basirun, Pan Sarawak Company Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Jason Tai and event organising chairman Abdul Mutalib Rashid, who is former SMK Agama Sibu PTA chairman.