The 127-year-old SK Abang Ali will have a new building costing RM3.5 million, and construction will start this year.

Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg announced the good news when officiating at the school’s 127th anniversary dinner on Saturday.

“Teachers need to be given a better place and our children need to have a building for them to rest or carry out co-curricular activities. The building plan for the teachers’ room and hall (dewan) shown by the architect is quite sophisticated,” Abang Johari said.

He added he had approved RM2.5 million while a corporate figure Tan Sri Bustari Yusuf chipped in RM1 million for the project.

“Tonight (Saturday) we approve — I have an allocation of RM2.5 million for us to build this extra building; we are short of RM1 million. I negotiated with Tan Sri Bustari Yusuf, who was a pupil of the school and promised him if he could contribute RM1 million, I will sing. So, there is a ‘deal’,” he said in jest.

“We have a long term programme to develop the school, including a secondary school but I cannot reveal as I need to find a way,” he added.

At the same function, Abang Johari announced that Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research Dr Annuar Rapaee would head the school development committee, particularly on the secondary school.

“We can focus on the centre of Malay villages here to have a secondary school to guide our children in a new landscape, new education, new fields and also the new economic situation of the world.

“With this committee – so long as I am the Chief Minister – I will find a strategic land in this area to establish this school. We will request the federal government to jointly develop a secondary school in this area.

“This is our hope to give good education to our children,” he said.

He praised the school for producing many academicians, entrepreneurs and leaders both in the state and country.

He cited Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim and Bustari as among the school’s fine products.

Also speaking at the function were Dr Annuar and Rohani.

At the same function, SK Abang Ali Alumni Association (Paskaa) handed a cheque for RM16,850 to the school as incentives for UPSR 2016.

Among those present were Abang Johari’s wife Datin Amar Datuk Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang, Minister of International Trade and E-Commerce Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Paskaa chairman Datuk Mohamad Yusnar Matalie, Temenggong Datuk Wan Hamid Edruce, Sibu Resident Hii Chang Kee and headmaster Hamdi Nadji.

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by Peter Boon

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