Company, land owner help build school

FOR THE COMMUNITY: Tiong Huat Rubber builds new school block in Sungai Division on land donated by Palanisamy Kumaran

SUNGAI PETANI: TIONG Huat Rubber is an exemplary Malaysian corporation. A strong supporter of the 1Malaysia concept mooted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, the Kedah-based company recently built a new school block for SJK (T) Palanisamy Kumaran in Sungai Division here.

Tiong Huat Rubber executive director Tan Ah Bah said it was a natural decision by his company to do its bit for the school.

“The schoolchildren are from the area where we have our factory.

“We found out that one of the buildings was badly infested with termites and we decided to help the children and school by building them a new block,” said Tan during a visit to the school by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.

Besides building a new school block, which houses eight classrooms, the company also built a new playing field and a guard house. A new parameter fencing was also provided.

All these were built on a land belonging to oil palm estate owner Palanisamy Kumaran.

Tan said most of the residents in the estate and surrounding areas worked at the factory.

“We have a very good and special relationship with the school, its students, their parents and teachers.

“We have been supporting the school and the community here since we set up our factory in 1957,” he said.

Incidentally, a good Samaritan, upon learning of the school’s new block, had donated air-conditioners for some of the classrooms.

Palanisamy, who was also present at the event, had donated two hectares of his land for the new block and playing field.

Dr Subramaniam commended Tiong Huat and Palanisamy for their contributions.

“This is proof that we can all live together harmoniously and help one another in times of need,” said Dr Subramaniam.
The school was formerly known as SJK (T) Bahagian Sungai. It was opened in 1946 and built on a 1.6ha land, owned by Tiong Huat Rubber.