PUCHONG: Land for three new schools and a centre for autistic students have been approved by the state to cater to overwhelming demand from the community.
“We have already approved the land for the schools to share,” said state executive councilor Teresa Kok.
The Kinrara assembly person said the state had received many complaints about the lack of public, vernacular and religious schools, especially in the Petaling district.
The schools, SJKC Yak Chee (2) and SMJK Katholik (2), and an autistic centre will be located in Ta- man Tasik Prima. A further 5.93 acres of land will be reserved for a primary Islamic religious school in Bandar Kinrara.
About 2.5 acres have been approved for the autism school, which will be built by the developers of Taman Tasik Prima. The rest of the land will be divided between the schools.
Although land for the new schools has been approved, the school boards still need approval from the Education Ministry be- fore they can proceed with construction.
Kok expressed hope that approval will be given immediately to enable the schools to start drafting plans on how to fully maximise the space.
The schools can share some common facilities like a field, courts and canteen to optimise the land.
She added that there should be no reason for the ministry not to give the green light.
She pointed out that SJKC Yak Chee in Taman Bukit Kuchai and SMJK Katholik in Petaling Jaya are highly reputable. Allow ing them to open branches in Puchong would benefit the community here, she said.
Each of these schools has about 3,000 to 4,000 students, with both having to turn down about 1,000 students annually due to lack of space. “The new schools will be within the vicinity of Puchong and it is convenient for residents to send their children there,” she added.
The autism school will also be a reputable one as it will be run by professionals from the National Autistic Society of Malaysia.
“This is part of our corporate social responsibility plan. We strive to give the best to the community,” said Tasik Prima project manager John Lou Chee Khiam.
He added that the move would also be timely because there is no autism centre in Puchong and surrounding areas.
Representatives from SJKC Yak Chee and SMJK Katholik also gave their thumbs-up to the move,
“We applied for land two years ago, and we are happy the state approved it this year,” SMJK Katholik Alumni chairperson Fong Kui Lun.
He said the school had applied for land in a few area, but they preferred Puchong because it is not that far from their current school in Petaling Jaya.
SJKC Yak Chee Alumni chair- person Liong Yen Lan said the school was already bursting at the seams.
