KUCHING: The Sarawak government has allocated an additional RM1.3 million to SJK (C) Chung Hua Batu 4 1/2 for the construction of its new four-storey classroom block, which is currently 40 percent complete.
Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian said the allocation was in addition to the RM1.5 million given by the state government before this.
“This funding is part of the RM10 million which was allocated by the Sarawak government this year to assist the Chinese primary schools,” he said during the presentation of a mock cheque to the school on Saturday (Sept 25).
Dr Sim, who is head of the Special Unit for Aided Chinese Primary Schools added that the state government had also alienated a 0.6 acre piece of state land to the school for its extension purposes.
“Besides the allocation for the Chinese secondary schools which was started by the former chief minister, the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem seven years ago, the Sarawak government has also started to give allocation for the Chinese primary schools last year at RM8 million which was increased to RM10 million this year.
“This RM10 million funding is not for the school’s operational cost, but to help the schools which require new physical infrastructure as the federal government does not pay for this.
“They (federal government) only pay for the teachers, operational costs. But anything else physical, SJK (C) have to raise their own funds,” he said.
He added funding by the state government would be distributed to 16 Chinese primary schools throughout the state.
“So, in order for us to allocate the funding to the schools, the special unit committee will assess the school projects and fund will be given based on priority.
“We will continue to get the funding every year for as long as the current government under Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg is still there, because this is our policy to help the schools. Our primary aim is to assist those that are building new classroom blocks first.
“With that, we hope that over a period of five to six years, all the schools that are building new classroom blocks will be done so that it can cater for all students irrespective of their race be it in urban or rural areas,” he said.
Meanwhile, committee member Jonathan Chai Voon Tok emphasised that the funding was to cater for those schools which were in need of extension of school building for additional classrooms and also relocation.
“I know that a lot of schools misunderstood the intention of setting up this special unit. But for the time being, based on our survey last year, we have 223 Chinese primary schools in Sarawak. Of these, 186 are aided Chinese primary schools, and these are the schools we are trying to help to alleviate the financial burden of the board of management of the schools.
“But as was mentioned by Dr Sim earlier, once all the basic needs of having additional classrooms and any relocation is completed, we might consider extending the scope in future,” he said.
The school’s board of management vice chairman Wong Kiong said that the new classroom block costs about RM7 million, and thus far the school has managed to raise RM2.5 million.
“Even with the additional allocation from the state government, we are still short of about RM1.5 million.
“Due to Covid-19, we cannot do much activity at all to raise funds. Therefore, we are really grateful for the government’ assistance,” said Wong, adding that presently, the school has 27 classrooms with 1,000 students.
He added the project was expected to be completed by the middle of next year and would cater for the 2023 intakes.
