Jeffrey Cheah donates RM5mil to enhance Pusing school in Perak

Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu (second from left) signing a plaque commemorating the launch of SJK (C) Gunong Hijau’s new administrative building with Jeffrey Cheah Foundation Founding Trustee and Sunway Group founding chairman Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah (third from left

PUSING: Sunway Group founder Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah has donated RM5mil for the development and enhancement of the 112-year-old SJK (C) Gunong Hijau in Pusing near Ipoh.

"Pusing is my hometown. Aside from our planning to build a bigger college at Sunway City Ipoh, I will continue to support this school and make it better and bigger," said Cheah

Cheah - who is also the Sunway Group chairman - launched the school's administrative building together with Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu on Friday (Jan 11).

Since 1997, Cheah and the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation (JCF) have donated RM5mil to the school's development and enhancement.

"With our experience and knowledge with the best universities around the world, we will plant as much as possible good culture and values in Pusing," said Cheah.

The new administrative building cost RM1mil and was completed in 2003, before being expanded with a a bigger staff room, admin offices, additional meeting rooms, a computer lab and a library in 2018.

Established in 1907, SJK (C) Gunong Hijau has more than 500 pupils and teachers.

The school Board of Governor's deputy chairman and organising chairman Datuk Lee Kon Yin said Cheah's family has been one of the biggest contributors to Pusing's survival after the collapse of the tin-mining industry in the early 1980s.

"His family has been very committed to help our school since 1997," he said.

Ahmad Faizal commended Cheah's commitment to sustainably progress his home state in his speech.

"His single-minded dedication to Perak's sustainable progress is an example to all.

"His many contributions to schools in Perak have ensured that thousands of school children have the education they need to create a better future for themselves," said Ahmad Faizal.

In 2010, the JCF was established by Cheah to continue the mandate of Sunway Education Trust which was established in 1997.

The foundation has disbursed more than RM400mil in scholarships as of 2018 and has donated close to RM20mil for school upgrades to seven schools nationwide benefiting thousands of student across the country.