PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Education has approved the construction of 10 new Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) to meet the educational needs of the Chinese community.
Its minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the construction of the SJKCs, five each in Johor and Selangor will be implemented in a rapidly developing region with a large Chinese population.
He said the new schools were SJKC Kuek Ho Yao, Mount Austin, Tebrau; SJKC Sim Mow Yu, Plentong; SJKC Tun H S Lee, Tebrau; SJKC Tan Kah Kee, Nusajaya and SJKC Cheah Sah, Nusajaya respectively in Johor, while the construction in Selangor involves SJKC Lee Loy Seng, Ijok; SJKC Sunsuria, Dengkil; SJKC Tun Ong Yoke Lin, Kuala Langat; SJKC Too Joon Hing, Dengkil and SJKC Tun Lim Chong Eu in Puncak Alam.
He said besides the country’s economic and financial capability, the approval was decided by the government after taking into account the views of MCA and Gerakan, Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties in the cabinet, who had been voicing the request often.
“As a sign of concern, the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has agreed to grant the approval in line with social needs and access to broader education to the target group,” he said during the announcement of the construction of the new SJKCs here yesterday.
He said, this denied the claims by some parties that the government did not care or assist in matters related to school education.
Also present were Transport Minister and MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong, who is also Gerakan president, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department who is also MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong and Deputy Education Minister cum MCA Youth chief Datuk Chong Sin Woon.
In addition to the construction of the new school, Mahdzir also announced the relocation of six SJKCs, namely SJKC Poay Chai, Singkir, Kedah will be moved to Taman Bukit Indah, Johor and SJKC Poi Min, Gopeng, Perak to SJKC Poi Min, Puchong, Selangor. — Bernama