KAPIT: Forty years ago (1972 to 2017), they were the Primary Six pupils of SJK © Hock Lam. Now they have returned to visit their alma mater and donated RM60,000 to the school building fund. Indeed they were grateful to their alma mater for building their education foundation to make them who they are today.
The school is planning to build a 3-storey 14 classrooms block to overcome the shortage of classrooms.
Of the amount, businesswoman Ong Sie Mee and her husband who operated a general store donated RM50,000 while another businessman Ngieng Hock Seng and his friend donated RM5,000 while another RM5,000 was collected during a reunion dinner held at a local restaurant, recently.
The school headmaster Wong Siew Ching received the donation from Ong Sie Mee when the former pupils paid a visit to the school.
Also present were former headmaster Yii Seng Meng, teachers Ngieng Ping Sing, Ngu Sing
lung and Wong Wang Seng and the joint organising chairperson, Kapitan Yiap Yii Hoo and Ong Fong Ching.
According to Kapitan Yiap Yii Hoo there are altogether 47 former pupils who are now living all over the country participated in the school’s first ever reunion dinner.
“In 1972 we were in Primary Six. After leaving the school, we went our separate ways. Some continued with their education at SMK Kapit while others studied in Sibu. During a Chinese New Year visit I met some classmates and discussed to hold a reunion dinner. We passed the words around and also through the media. The response was overwhelming and almost all my former classmates were present during the reunion dinner held last year.
“We also heard of the school appealing for donations to build a new classroom block. So during the reunion dinner we managed to collect RM5,000. That was how we managed to raise RM60,000 because we feel this it is the best gift for our alma mater (former school) which we left 45 years ago,” Kapitan Yiap said.
