IN another display of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah – Barisan Nasional (GRS-BN) State Government’s concern for other races, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has agreed to extend the lease of SJKC Chung Hwa Tamparuli, which expired five years ago, by another 99 years.
PTA Chairman George Teo said the Chief Minister has given the school a new lease of life.
“Legally, we have been squatting on government land since the lease expired in 2017.
“Hajiji’s action in agreeing to extend the lease brought much relief to Tamparuli folks, especially parents,” he said after the Board of Management of SJKC Chung Hwa Tamparuli paid a courtesy call on Hajiji, recently.
The land was originally alienated by the British colonial government to Chung Hwa School Tamparuli in 1957 for a period of 30 years from 1957 and which was later extended a further 30 years. SJKC Chung Hwa Tamparuli is a government-aided primary school. Presently, there are three blocks of school buildings on the land with a student population of about 380.
Teo said the State Government’s decision shows it is concerned about the people’s welfare, including education.
“The school not only caters to Tamparuli folks’ children but also from surrounding areas. Although it is a Chinese school, we have a huge number of pupils from other races as well,” he said, after a courtesy call.
Teo said this was not the first time that Hajiji had helped the school.
“Early this year, Hajiji approved a plot of land near the school to Chung Hwa Tamparuli which was applied for 13 years ago.
“The school applied for the plot of land in 2009 but was met with several objections from the Tuaran District Council as part of the land was previously a public landfill.
“However, the District Council had closed down the landfill around 2000 and shifted it to another place, thus leaving the land idle.
“As the land is just next to the school, the school management decided to apply for the land and at the same time help upkeep the plot, including employing workers to cut the grass,” he said.
Teo said the double gift from Hajiji had made this year a special one for the school which would turn 82 years this year.
Also present at the courtesy call were the school’s Board of Management Chairman Chang Hon Kong, Deputy Chairman Sim Chee Sing, Secretary Johnny Tee, the school’s principal and board members as well as Legal Advisor of the Board Datuk Richard Chua.
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