Class of 1972 donate RM60,000 to alma mater
KAPIT: In 1972, they were Primary Six pupils in SJK Hock Lam. Now, 45 years later, they returned to visit their alma mater and chipped in RM60,000 for the school’s building fund.
The funds will go towards constructing a three- storey concrete building with 14 classrooms to overcome the school’s shortage of classrooms.
Of the donated sum, businesswoman Ong Sie Mee and her husband who operate a general store gave RM50,000, while another businessman Ngieng Hock Seng and his friend contributed RM5,000. The remaining amount was collected during a reunion dinner at a local restaurant recently.
Headmaster Wong Siew Ching received the donation from Ong when the former pupils visited the school.
Also present were former headmaster Yii Seng Meng and teachers Ngieng Ping Sing, Ngu Sing Lung and Wong Wang Seng.
Kapitan Yiap Yii Hoo and Ong Fong Ching jointly organised the reunion.
According to Yiap, there were 47 former pupils who travelled from all over Malaysia to participate in the first ever reunion dinner for the SJK Hock Lam Class of 1972.
“In 1972, we were in Primary Six. After leaving the school, we grew far apart. Some continued their education at SMK Kapit while others studied in Sibu. In those years, there was little contact unlike now which is so convenient with handphones and WeChat (messaging app).
“Earlier in the year during Chinese New Year visiting, we met some old classmates and discussed about holding a reunion dinner. We passed around the word and also through the media. The response was overwhelming and some 90 per cent (of the former pupils) were present during the gathering,” he said.
“We know the school is appealing for generous donations for the school building fund. So during the gathering, we appealed for donations and the response was overwhelming. Everybody was willing to chip in for the mother school. That’s how we managed to raise the amount of RM60,000 because we feel this is the best gift for the mother school we left 45 years ago.”