Ready to build young minds: Chong (second from right) visiting the newly completed school buliding. Also present are (from left) Leong, MCA Pandan Youth chief Aluyis Lim, school board chairman Cheong Yew Hon, MCA Selangor Youth Chief Tan Jie Sen and MCA vice-president Datuk Lawrence Low. — LOW BOON TAT/The Star.
KUALA LUMPUR: After 16 years, the new school building for SJK (C) Choon Hwa here is finally completed, and targets to open its doors to students by March 2025.
Although the building is completed, air conditioners, classroom furniture and other school equipment are yet to be installed.
MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon, who visited the school building yesterday, was delighted to finally witness the completion.
“The completion of the school shows that Malaysia’s education policies have changed to allow Chinese vernacular schools to relocate.
“It used to be almost impossible to establish new Chinese primary schools or relocate them to other states,” he said.
MCA’s efforts over the years have enabled schools like SJK (C) Choon Hwa to be built on government reserved land previously only allocated for SJK and SMK.
“Over time, we managed to have government funding for land and construction.
“This school is a successful example as it is entirely funded by the government with over RM10mil allocated for its construction,” he said.
He added that during his tenure as deputy education minister, the government had approved the construction of 16 new Chinese primary schools and the relocation of six schools.
“RM20mil was allocated annually for this plan. We hope the current government will retain this policy,” he said.
Pandan MCA chief and vice-chairman of the school’s building committee, Datuk Leong Kok Wee, said the school was built on three acres of land (1.21ha), and has three blocks.
“We have 36 classrooms and with space for 12 additional classrooms at the ground level if the school expands,” he said.
In between the three blocks is a rectangular compound, and plans are underway to build a large roof so that the area can be a multipurpose space, he said.
The committee is also applying for various facilities for the school, including water supply, electricity, sewage and roadworks, he added.
Another RM2mil to RM3mil is needed for school facilities and furnishings, he said.
Leong added that they hope to obtain the Certificate Of Completion and Compliance (CCC) by this year.
Since 2008, SJK (C) Choon Hwa has applied and was approved by the Education Ministry to construct a new school in Pandan.
The school is to relocate from Batu 18 Hulu Langat to Pandan, but was delayed many times.
In 2017, the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) rejected the school’s construction in Taman Lembah Maju, which the school’s building committee appealed.
Finally in 2019, MPAJ approved the construction of the school on the site.
