This Newly-Relocated Chinese Vernacular School In Selangor Has Over 50% Malay Pupils
Prior to the relocation, 55% of the student population at SJK(C) Ton Fah were Malay.
By Yap Wan Xiang — 30 Nov 2023, 06:28 PM
Despite being a Chinese primary school, SJK(C) Ton Fah in Selangor, serves as a unique epitome of unity and racial harmony in Malaysia, with over half of its students being Malays
Located in Kampung Sungai Machang in Beranang, SJK(C) Ton Fah currently has 253 students, with Malaysiakini reporting that 52.57% of them are of Malay ethnicity.
The remaining portion of the student body is composed of 34.78% Chinese, 7.51% Indian, and 5.14% from other ethnicities.
Just three months ago, the percentage of Malay students was even higher at 55.23%.
On Tuesday, 28 November, the school with 113 years of history was officially relocated to Eco Majestic in Semenyih.
Deputy Education Minister Lim Hui Ying, Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Teo Nie Ching, and Selangor executive council member Ng Sze Han were present to celebrate its grand opening.
Speaking to reporters, Lim said SJK(C) Ton Fah had trouble attracting more students due to rural-to-urban migration
Consequently, the Ministry of Education (MOE) had in 2017 approved the relocation of the school established in 1910.
According to a 2019 report by the New Straits Times, the construction cost of the school in the Eco Majestic township amounted to RM11.5 million.
The developer contributed RM7.5 million for the relocation, while MOE and the Ministry of Finance (MOF) contributed the remaining RM4 million.
From pending approvals to getting parental consent and construction, the relocation process took SJK(C) Ton Fah six years, reported Malaysiakini.
The school even faced land dispute problems, which ended with the Selangor government acquiring the land to facilitate a smooth relocation.
Headmistress Tan Kwee Choo told the news portal that the relocation has led to a 14% increase in enrolment, and the campus has expanded from seven classrooms to 24.
