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THE Penang government has always recognised the role of education institutions in producing human talents for the development of the state, says Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
He said since 2008, the state has been giving allocations to schools in Penang so that they could upgrade their buildings and facilities to provide a better environment for teachers and students.
“We’ll continue with this yearly allocations to schools,” Chow said in his speech after taking part in the foundation stone-laying ceremony of SJK (C) Han Chiang new building and witnessing the contract award signing between the Han Chiang School Board chairman Datuk Seri Ooi Soo Hing and the JVG Bina Sdn Bhd (the contractor) director Henry Yeoh.
Chow added that the state government would contribute RM100,000 to the construction of the new building for SJK (C) Han Chiang.
The half-acre project to build a four-storey building with 22 classrooms and a covered basketball court costs RM6.5 million. The Han Chiang School Board, led by executive director Tan Sri Tan Kok Ping, has managed to collect RM6 million through donations.
Chow also appealed to donors to contribute to the project, which is expected to be completed in November this year.
The award signing ceremony was witnessed by Chow, Tan, Han Chiang School Board secretary Datuk Tan Hiang Joo and JVG Bina Sdn Bhd managing director Winson Yeap Mue Hock.
Others present at the ceremony were state executive councillor Jagdeep Singh Deo, Jelutong MP R.S.N. Rayer, Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Daniel Gooi, SJK (C) Han Chiang principal Lee Hong Choo, school board members, teachers and several invited guests.
Jagdeep announced that he would contribute RM20,000 from his Datok Keramat constituency fund to the school expansion project. Han Chiang is located in the Datok Keramat constituency.
“The Penang government fully supports this project. Enhancing education opportunities is our priority. A project like this may cost some money but it is important to nurture Penangites to make Penang a better place.
“As briefed by the architect, the new school building has a green concept. And our vision is to make Penang greener and cleaner to inspire the nation,” Jagdeep said in his speech.
He also said the state, through the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and other agencies, had spent RM1.6 million in recent years to improve the infrastructure and roads in the vicinity of Han Chiang to overcome flood problems.
The existing SJK (C) Han Chiang has two blocks of buildings – one two-storey and the other three-storey. It has 20 classrooms with 950 students.
Ooi said the foundation stone-laying ceremony was a milestone event in the history of the SJK (C) Han Chiang, coming just after Han Chiang celebrated its 100th anniversary on Oct 10, 2019.
He said the project was initially to cost RM3.5 million but it increased to RM6.5 million because of changes made to build a comprehensive teaching building.
“The school board specifically requested that a connecting passage be built linking the new and old buildings.
“The school has not been able to transform itself to the call by the Education Ministry to have a one-session system due to space constraints; hence it has kept to the morning and afternoon classes. But it will be a matter of time before it changes to a one-session system,” said Ooi.
Ooi also expressed his gratitude to the state government, Tan, officials and social figures who supported and assisted in the project.
Architect Mei Chee Seong from aLM Architects, in his briefing, said the current buildings do not provide much space but the new integrated design would include an axis joining the old buildings and the new one.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis
Video by Ahmad Adil Muhamad