MP: Land available to house under-enrolled one Chinese primary school in Kapit

KAPIT (Feb 13): The SJKC Hock Lam board of management would agree for its acquired land at Bleteh here to be used as a relocation site for any under-enrolled Chinese primary school from other districts across this division.

Julau MP Datuk Larry Sng highlighted this during a session conducted by the board, where he is the chairman, at a restaurant here on Thursday evening.

Adding on, he said the Bleteh site had just undergone the piling, earth and levelling works.

“It should be ready to accommodate the relocation of any under-enrolled Chinese-aided primary school willing to be relocated to Kapit.

“Initially, the plan was to build a new SJKC Hock Lam 2, but the current enrolment of pupils (at the present primary school) is just 632.

“Under the Education Act, the pupils’ population must exceed 2,000 to establish a new school,” he told reporters when asked to explain about the proposal.

In addition, Sng said the suggestion could only apply for the relocation of one under-enrolled Chinese primary school, in view of the land size covering only five acres.

“Moreover, to relocate an existing school must require the consent of all parents – if even one disagrees, the relocation cannot proceed,” he added.

“Still, the provision can still be made for our land to be utilised for this relocation purpose.”

The Thursday night session was attended by representatives of various Chinese associations, among them were Kapit Tai San Ten Association, Kapit Foochow Association, Kapit Kwang Tung Association, Kapit Chiang Chuan Association as well as SJKC Hock Lam board of management.

Parent-teacher association chairman Ting King Yiing, Kapit Tai San Ten Association chairman Jason Yeo,Kapit Foochow Association chairperson Sia Leh Ching, Kapit Lions Club head Dr Sia Tih Kong, Kapit Coffee Shop and Restaurant Owners Association Ma Tian Ho, SJKC Hock Lam acting headmistress Amy Saw and the school’s senior assistant Ngu Ling Ching were also present.