School To Be Relocated From Karak To Puchong

Parents in Puchong can breathe a sigh of relief with the proposed relocation of a Chinese primary school in Karak to Puchong.

Puchong MCA division chairman Wong Hock Aun revealed the plans of the relocation, which is to help ease the shortage of Chinese schools in Puchong.

“On July 10, we went to see Deputy Education Ministry Dr Wee Ka Siong in parliament to highlight the plight of Puchong folk plagued by shortage of Chinese schools in the area.

The Puchong MCA division was told that SJK (C) Kheng Chee in Ladang Bukit Dinding was to be relocated elsewhere as it only had nine students, comprising six Indians and three Malays.

“The new location was yet to be confirmed, so Wee suggested that we identify a piece of land in Puchong which is suitable for the school,” Wong said.

A 2.4ha site in Persiaran Indera in Pusat Bandar Puchong was identified and the information was forwarded to Wee.
“The land, which is close to Bandar Puteri Puchong, is now reserved for the school.

“We chose the land because of the area has a high Chinese population.

“Secondly, there are only one primary school, one secondary school and one religious school in the immediate vicinity.

“Thirdly, the land is located beside the main road providing easy access, ” Wong said.

He added that they had other options, too.

“We have identified two more pieces of land in Bandar Puteri Puchong and Puchong Utama if this does not work.

“However, we prefer the school to be built at Pusat Bandar Puchong to benefit more residents,” he said.

Wee, when contacted, confirmed the relocation.

“It’s almost decided. In view of the rapid development in Puchong, it is most likely that the school will be relocated to the location suggested by the local community,” he said.

However, the relocation is still at its preliminary stage.

“The proposal just came in and the ministry needs some time to process it.

“We have to check the availability of the site,” he said.

There are four Chinese schools in Puchong — SJK (C) Ladang Harcroft, SJK (C) Han Ming, SJK (C) Yak Chee and SJK (C) Sin Ming.

Ladang Harcroft was relocated from Ayer Tawar in Perak to Bandar Puchong Jaya in November last year.

“Ladang Harcroft has 324 students, Han Ming 3,750, Yak Chee 4,077 and Sin Ming 1,521.

“There are still many children who attend schools in nearby townships, such as SJK (C) Sungai Way and SJK (C) Chen Moh in Petaling Jaya, and SJK (C) Yuk Chyun at Old Klang Road,” Wong said.

He added that next year a total of 256 Year One students would have to attend schools elsewhere as the schools in Puchong were already full.

Wong also urged parents who live near Ladang Harcroft but have children attending Han Ming and Yak Chee to transfer their kids to Ladang Harcroft.

“Wee had agreed to have Ladang Harcroft open 10 Year One, eight Year Two, four Year Three and two Year Four classes.

“If the children are transferred to Ladang Harcroft, the other two schools can probably open upmore Year One classes,” he said.

He advised the parents to contact the schools after the Primary School Achievement Test (UPSR) on Sept 11 to work out the transfer.

Source: The Star, 05 September 2008