Cause for cheer: (from left) Lee Young Kee, Yen Voon Sum and Lee Yoon Sang, all in their 80s, meeting again for the first time for the school’s centenary celebration, after parting ways at the end of their six-year primary education in 1950.
HAVING twice been deferred due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the centenary celebration of SJK(C) Chap Khuan in Batu Arang, Selangor, was finally held early last month.
The event, which drew 1,420 attendees, also saw the school raising RM600,000 for its building fund – an unprecedented endeavour in the small old coal mining town, a press release from the organising committee read.
Established by a group of Chinese immigrants and staff members of coal mining company Malayan Collieries Ltd in 1920, Chap Khuan is a medium-sized school with an enrolment of about 240 pupils, 52% of whom are from the Indian and Malay communities.
The current four blocks of the school building were financed by British coal miner John Archibald Russell – who had set up the coal mining company – in 1949.
The school building was declared an architectural heritage in 2020 under the National Heritage Act 2005.
Gracing the fundraising dinner on Dec 3 were Russell’s grandson John Russell, who is Boh Tea Malaysia director; MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong, who is an alumnus; Selayang MP William Leong; and Rawang assemblyman Chua Wei Kiat.
The dinner started off with pupils performing cultural dances, followed by a presentation of long service awards recognising those who had served the school for over 20 years.
The 19 recipients were members of the board of school governors, present and former teachers, school gardeners and cleaners – 10 of whom had devoted over 30 years of services to the school.
Alumnus Leow Fah and his wife joined in the celebration by entertaining the audience with two melodies.
In preparation for the event, the organising committee had gone to great lengths to reach out to alumni members of yesteryears, both residing locally and abroad, and the public to seek donations.
They had also sourced for historical information from newspapers in libraries and national archives to produce a 500-page magazine filled with more than 500 photographs, as well as newspaper cuttings and essays, documenting memorable events at the school and the town.
In addition, they secured sponsorships and discounts, which saw the attendees leaving the event with commemorative ceramic mugs and environmentally friendly handy bags.
The school is currently headed by a principal, three assistant principals and 20 teachers.
