KAPIT: Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi pledged a state government grant of RM500,000 to SJKC Hock Lam here.
The Kapit MP made the announcement when receiving a recent courtesy call from the school’s Board of Management at Meligai Hotel here.
Leading the courtesy call was the chairman of the SJK Hock Lam Building Sub-Committee, Ting King Yiing who briefed Nanta on the progress of the ongoing construction works of the RM 1.52 million three-storey building that will house 14 classrooms.
Ting said the proposed construction of the new classroom building is to overcome acute shortage of classroom due to increasing enrolment of pupils at the only Chinese aided primary school in Kapit district.
The construction work is also to replace the two blocks of double storey wooden classroom building that was declared unsafe for occupation by Public Works Department few years ago.
According to Ting, the construction works to the new classroom block began early this year and is almost completed by now. “Hopefully, by this September, pupils could move into the new classrooms. By then there would be only one session in the morning instead of the present two sessions. Once the new classroom block is ready then there would only be one session in the morning,” Ting pointed out.
He disclosed that the cost of the building including the furniture is estimated at around RM1.52 million. Currently the building fund raised from the public here is still short of RM500,000. The donations were from various Chinese based associations and individuals and also through fund raising drives.
“We are seeking government assistance to overcome the shortage for the finishing touch and furniture like black board, teacher’s desks and chairs, pupil’s desks and chairs, fans, window curtains, air-conditioning units for the library and computer lab,” stressed Ting.
Accompanying Ting for the courtesy call were the board members namely Kong Siew Kim, Chia Weng Kwong, Wong Hwang Hyang, Kong SienHua, Dr Sia Tih Kong, Sii Bang Ee and Chua Kian Guan respectively.
Also present were Bukit Goram state assemblyman Jefferson Jamit Unyat; political secretary to Chief Minister Tapah Ata; school headmaster Wong Siew Chen; Pemanca Yong Thu Fook; Penghulu Sia Shui Poh; Penghulu Wong Kie Ing; P215 Kapit Parliament Constituency Special Affairs Officer Ambrose Abong Bugek; Nanta’s administrative officer Sylvester Insor and the secretary of PBB Kapit Edward Manggah Kendawang.
