ISKANDAR PUTERI: The newly constructed SJKC Poay Chai in Bukit Indah will see its first batch of over 200 pupils later this month, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
The MCA president said that the pupils were currently studying at 11 primary schools in nearby areas and would be transferred to the new school, which will be opened on June 23.
“These children currently have to travel some 15km from their homes to their respective schools. With SJKC Poay Chai opening soon, it will shorten travelling distance as it is nearer to their homes.
“We also expect the number of students at SJKC Poay Chai, which is a one-session school, to increase to 420 students soon and reach 1,000 enrolments soon as there are a lot of residential areas here,” he added.
Dr Wee, who is also Johor MCA chairman and Ayer Hitam MP, said this in a press conference after conducting a visit to the school here on Saturday (June 8).
He added that SJKC Poay Chai was relocated from Singkir in Kedah, to Bukit Indah here as the school was facing a lack of students in its original location while there was a demand for a school here.
Dr Wee also said that discussions with the Education Ministry to relocate the school to Bukit Indah started in 2014 before approval was given on Oct 26, 2017.
He congratulated the school development committee headed by its chairman Wong You Fong, who is also Wanita MCA chief, for successfully raising RM15mil in funds to cover the school’s construction cost.
“They were able to overcome many technical issues involving the school construction including when the country was hit with the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
“I would like to express my thanks to everyone regardless of their political background as they have played a role in helping to ensure SJKC Poay Chai can be open,” he said.
Meanwhile, Wong said that she and the school development committee were very happy that SJKC Poay Chai could begin its operation in a couple of weeks.
“We will begin with 276 students and 10 teachers as well as a principal. The RM15mil is part of the school's first phase construction project, which sees one block of a three-storey building.
“Block A consists of 11 rooms, which include a teachers' room, science class, library, several classrooms and a school hall,” she added.
Wong also said that they have requested additional funding of RM4mil from the Education Ministry for the construction of Block B, which is the school's second-phase development project.
She said that Block B would also be a three-storey building which will have 12 classrooms when approved, adding that construction period would last about 10 months.
