GEORGE TOWN: The Education Ministry is committed to streamlining approval for school construction, particularly for government-aided schools, so that education infrastructure projects can be carried out more smoothly, says its deputy minister Wong Kah Woh.
He said the ministry would help resolve issues related to documentation and administrative procedures once matters concerning sites and school enrolment needs had been settled.
“Over the past four years, under the Madani government, we have worked to streamline all processes.
“If the new site has demand in terms of enrolment and the site-related issues have been resolved, then there is no issue for us to grant approval,” he told reporters after the groundbreaking ceremony for the new SJKC Heng Ee building in Bayan Lepas here yesterday, Bernama reported.
Also present were Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Sim Tze Tzin and Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Lim Hui Ying.
Citing the SJKC Heng Ee project as an example, Wong said the ministry approved the school’s relocation in June 2025 after meeting representatives of its school management board in August 2024.
He said the move stemmed from increasingly unconducive conditions at the original school, as well as declining enrolment, with only about 130 pupils.
The new 18-classroom SJKC Heng Ee building is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2028, with operations targeted to begin in September that year, he said.
He said the new school can accommodate between 540 and 630 pupils, depending on the number of pupils per class.
“However, the ministry has no objection if the school wishes to submit applications for the second and third phases should there be an encouraging response after it begins operations,” he said.
