KUCHING: The Chinese community received a huge ‘ang pow’ in the form of a five-acre land and RM15 million for the construction of Chung Hua Middle School (CHMS) No. 4 new school building from the Sarawak government.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg who made the announcement said on top of that, a three-acre land and RM5 million will be allocated to the Sarawak Chinese Charitable Trust Board.
“We understand that CHMS No. 4’s school management wants to expand the school, but they are unable to due to limited space at the present site.
“Now, in providing good education for our children, the government has decided to allocate five acres of land and RM15 million for the development of the new school.
“For the trustee of the school, we give you three acres of land and RM5 million. Tonight’s ‘ang pow’ is RM20 million altogether. We have the revenue, so we can share with the Chinese community,” he said.
He said this during the Chinese New Year celebration and the Federation of Chinese Associations Kuching, Samarahan, Serian Divisions’ 45th anniversary dinner at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) last night (Feb 25).
Earlier, Board of Management of CHMS No. 1, 3, and 4 chairman Datuk Richard Wee said due to increasing student intake at CHMS No. 4, the current site has reached its limitation for future expansion.
“At the same time, over the years, the government has expressed its wish to convert the listed heritage building (Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Abdillah) into the Malay Cultural Museum.
“After many rounds of negotiations, all parties have finally reached consensus and agreement,” he said.
As for the purpose of planning and building of the new school, he said the school board anticipates that it will take approximately five years to complete.
The current building that houses CHMS No. 4 in Jalan Haji Taha will be returned to the Sarawak government.
The school board agreed to hand over the Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Abdillah building to the government last year.
On the Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Abdillah building and its surrounding area, it would be further preserved as a heritage site.
It was reported that the school’s administrative block in Jalan Haji Taha, initially built in 1930, was previously owned by a Malay community leader named Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Abdillah. However, the building was later sold by his grandchild to the Sarawak Chinese Charitable Trust Board.
Meanwhile, Wee in a previous news report last year, said that the CHMS No. 4 will be relocated to Stutong.
