（亞羅士打訊）教育部副部長拿督韓春錦宣佈緊急撥款5萬令吉，以讓吉華K校進行初步修復危樓之經費。

他說，不論是政府學校，還是政府津貼學校（半津貼），如果有申請撥款解決問題，教育部都會視情況處理，至於提供所需經費的半數或是全數，這點就需視情況的迫切性而定。

他在吉華K校家教協會主席林星吉、建委會成員劉國堅、林紋毅、校長賴勁華，以及吉華S校董事長林玉龍等陪同下巡視案發現場，瞭解曾文珩老師墜樓身亡事件詳情過後向記者發言。

吉華K校董家教三機構週日晚上召開緊急會議，過後向記者詢及所提出的修復或重建危樓方案時表示，修建危樓至少需耗10萬令吉，韓春錦週一宣佈5萬令吉撥款，受詢及與真正所需費用差距太大時解釋，5萬令吉緊急撥款，是為了方便校方馬上動用款項解決迫切問題，重修危樓方面的經費需待申請之後另行撥出。

他說，他必須提醒所有延用舊樓上課，或是取木料建校的學校，定期檢查白蟻是很重要的。

他說，他向吉華K校當局瞭解所得，學校其實也有定期檢查，只是樓板被一層塑膠地蓆覆蓋，所以沒有察覺遭腐蝕部份，事件是在各方面都沒有察覺的情況下發生。

他說，這樣的意外發生應該警惕各校，要非常謹慎小心處理這方面問題。

ALOR STAR: The Education Ministry has directed the management of schools with wooden buildings to consult their local authorities and state education departments at once.

Deputy Minister Datuk Hon Choon Kim said these buildings must be inspected to ensure that they were safe.

Chan:Supposed to have celebrated his 43rd birthday Monday.
“The headmaster and district education officer must inspect such schools and inform the state education department if they find any building to be unsafe,” he said, adding that the affected schools could apply for an allocation for repair work.

Hon said this after visiting SJK (C) Keat Hwa in Jalan Kampung Perak here, where teacher Chan Boon Heng fell to his death when a decayed plywood floor gave way on Sunday.

He also advised school managements not to conduct renovation or extension work without approval from the local authorities.

Hon, who announced a RM50,000 ministry allocation for the school to undertake remedial work, also handed over MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting’s RM5,000 personal donation to Chan’s family.

Chan was to have celebrated his 43rd birthday yesterday.

BIRTHDAY OFFERING: Ooi comforting her children as they stare at their late father’s birthday cake at their house in Alor Star.
The birthday cake that his family had bought for him was instead turned into an offering for his soul, by his wife Ooi Lee Keng, 40, and children Huan Xun, eight, and Huan Wei, four, at their home in Taman Derga Jaya.

In Kuala Lumpur, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the Kedah Public Works Department was investigating the incident at the school.

DEADLY HOLE: Hon (right) and MCA secretary-geneal Datuk Ong Ka Chuan visiting the scene of the tragedy.
He said the department would submit a detailed report to him on the cause of the mishap.

“I have asked the PWD to check why the floor collapsed, and on the construction technique used,” he added.

National Union of the Teaching Profession president Ismail Nihat said the loss of life could have been avoided.

“Something like this should not have happened. The school board is ultimately responsible for safety at the school,” he added.

National Union of Tamil Teachers advisor Shahul Hamid Mydin Shah said most national-type schools, being partially aided, did not have enough funds to maintain their buildings.

TEACHER Chan Boon Heng’s family had bought a fruit cake to celebrate his 43rd birthday yesterday.

But Chan died in the freak mishap early Sunday.

The birthday cake was instead turned into an offering for the late Chan at his house in Taman Derga Jaya, Alor Star, yesterday.

The offering was made by Chan’s wife Ooi Lee Keng, 40, and the couple’s two children, Huan Xun, eight, and Huan Wei, four.

Ooi said she had been married to Chan for 10 years, add-ing that her husband was passionate about his work.

“I hope that the Government will remember the contribution made by my husband,” said Ooi, a teacher at SJK (C) Soon Cheng, Bukit Pinang.

Chan will be cremated at Wat Boonyaram Buddhist Tem-ple, Padang Sera in Jitra on Thursday.

Deputy Education Minister Datuk Hon Choon Kim handed RM5,000 to Chan’s family. It was a personal donation from MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting.

MCA secretary-general Da-tuk Ong Ka Chuan said the party would meet today to discuss the school’s plans for a new building.

Earlier Ka Chuan, Hon, Kedah Education Committee chairman Datuk Azimi Daim, state Education Department director Datuk Abdul Rahman Yop paid their last respects to Boon Heng.

Abdul Rahman handed RM1,500 to the family for funeral expenses.

（亞羅士打訊）吉華K校曾在今年初提呈關於學校設備失修的公函給哥打士打教育局，內容包括提及學校面對白蟻侵蝕的問題，但是沒獲得政府的任何協助。

據悉，吉華K校曾於今年1月27日提呈一份關於學校設備失修的公函予教育局，內容列出學校設備失修的部份，包括學校辦事處、資料室、科學室面對白蟻侵蝕問題。

此外，校方也呈報關於學校電供時常發生故障、天花板出現裂痕等需要維修的問題。

不過，這份在8個月前提呈的公函，沒有獲得教育局關注，也沒有任何回覆。

據教育局人士反映，教育部每年都會發出表格，供州內各源流學校填寫學校設備失修的問題。

不過，一般上華校所提呈的表格，都不會獲得政府回應，也不會派人前來維修，國民學校卻沒有這方面的問題。

另一方面，吉華K校校方已聯絡負責為學校承包消除白蟻工程的公司，有關公司週一已派人到校檢查，校方也促承包公司提呈報告給校方。

根據合約，校方每年付出逾千令吉治理白蟻的費用給有關承包公司。

（吉隆坡訊）華總促請政府嚴肅看待學校建築結構安全問題，並從速撥款給那些校舍遭受白蟻蛀蝕的學校進行重建工作。

華總教育及人力資源委員會主席周世揚促請校舍遭白蟻侵蝕的學校盡快向教育部申請撥款重建，以保障師生的人命安全，同時把申請信副本寄交各州中華大會堂。

他說，根據華總收集到的資料，國內不少學校的陳舊建築，正遭受白蟻蛀蝕，有的局部蛀蝕，有的整座被蛀蝕，成為危樓，隨時都會坍塌而釀成巨禍。

他指出，吉華K校一名老師因學校地板被白蟻蛀蝕而腳步踏空墜樓慘死的悲劇，是一個預警訊號，提醒各方面必須嚴肅的看待學校建築結構安全問題。

周世揚說，吉華K校老師不幸喪命事件，顯示華小校舍的重建或修復工作長久以來都受到忽略。許多華小的修復及重建工程都是依靠學校的董家教及社會人士的捐助去完成。

他促請政府重建所有殖民地時代遺留下來的木板學校，一來保障學校師生的安全，二來也符合我國要成為先進國的目標。

他建議政府在第9大馬計劃及即將公佈的明年度財政預算案內撥出一筆“附加撥款”，全面重建所有面對白蟻侵蝕威脅的學校校舍。

（亞羅士打訊）沒有壽星切的生日蛋糕，在生日當天變成祭品。

吉華K校教師曾文珩，於9月11日踏中被白蟻蛀蝕而崩塌的2樓教務處樓板，從15尺高處跌下喪生，在9月12日生日的他，卻不能親自吹蠟燭、切蛋糕，靈前供奉的生日蛋糕，令人看了黯然神傷。

曾文珩發生意外的次日，就是他的生日，從早上到晚上，前往曾文珩喪府慰問的人不計其數，其中以教育界及州內各學校校長和教師為主。

但是，在他生日出現的人群，卻不能為他高高興興慶祝生日會，反之都是前來追悼他和慰問其家屬。

當天，白天的時候還沒有見到靈前有生日蛋糕，不過當晚上記者前往採訪行動黨秘書長林冠英到喪府慰問死者家屬的新聞時，卻見到曾文珩靈前有一個生日蛋糕。

但是，他已不能再親自切這粒生日蛋糕了。

沒有壽星切的生日蛋糕變成祭品，令人黯然神傷。

Teacher Chan Boon Heng, who was killed in a freak accident at his school on Sunday, will be cremated on Thursday.
His sister, Chang Chooi Choy, 50, said the family planned to bring her brother’s (left) body from his house in Taman Derga Jaya to the Siamese Temple in Padang Sera, about 30km from here, in a procession including pupils, teachers, relatives and friends.

“It is the least the family can do to honour him,” she said.

More than 100 people, including pupils from SRJK (C) Keat Hwa (K) where he taught, are expected to pay their last respects.

“He was dedicated to the profession and had contributed a lot to the school and community.”

Keat Hwa headmaster Lai Heng Hwa said the school would charter a bus for pupils wanting to attend the funeral.

“We had initially planned to cancel all lessons on Thursday but the State Education Department was against the idea. We will instead round up teachers and pupils who wish to pay their last respects,” he said.

Acting Menteri Besar Datuk Mahdzir Khalid, who visited the Chan family today, described him as an active social worker.

Chan succumbed to serious head injuries and a punctured lung after he fell through the school’s rotting wooden floorboard to the floor below.

（亞羅士打訊）玻璃市華校教師公會週二早上派遣8所華小校長，親蒞喪府向曾文珩老師致祭以表哀悼，並向其家屬表達玻璃市華小教職員同感悲痛之心聲。

這批以玻璃市華校教師公會副主席率領鄧英蓮率領的代表團聲稱，玻璃市董聯會已針對白蟻蛀蝕校園事項，召集玻州僅有的10所華小瞭解實況，遺憾的是其中9所華小都皆受白蟻蛀蝕，唯受影響情況不是很嚴重。

這些學校希望獲得教育局的關注，及早修復免殃及師生。

這支代表團希望曾文珩事件確能喚醒社會關注華小問題。

這支代表團包括群修小學校長鄧英蓮、巴東勿剎華小校長梁北江、公華小學校長吳月雲、振漢小學校長甘彩雲、華益小學校長林工、新邦小學校長陳寶霞、新民小學校長譚賽銀、啟民小學校長賴美運。

鄧英蓮說，玻璃市州只有10所華小，曾文珩經常受邀到玻州充當活動司儀，玻璃市州的華小教職員，敬重曾文珩勤懇服務的態度，閱報聞悉曾文珩墜樓身亡皆感震驚。

她所率領的8所華小校長，是以玻璃市華校教師公會名譽，代表全玻璃市華小教職員，向在生時表現卓越的曾文珩老師致祭。

The grieving family of the teacher who died after falling through the school’s rotting wooden floorboard is unsure if they will take legal action against the school for negligence.

The family is currently busy with the funeral arrangements of Chan Boon Heng, who fell five metres through the termite-infested floor of SRJK (C) Keat Hwa (K)’s office to the hall underneath. He died a few hours later.

Chan’s elder sister, Chang Chooi Choy, 50, said the family did not want to think about the matter until after his funeral on Thursday.

“We are still distraught over his tragic death. We want to complete the funeral rites before we deal with it,” she said today.

His widow, Ooi Lee Keng, 40, who also teaches at a private Chinese school in Bukit Pinang, was initially too distraught to talk to the media.

However, when approached after the visit of Deputy Education Minister Datuk Hon Choon Kim, Ooi expressed hope that the Government would assist Chinese schools to upgrade their premises.

Meanwhile, a steady stream of visitors flocked to Chan’s house to pay their last respects to the father of two who was popular among the Chinese community here for his active involvement in community activities. He was also frequently invited to emcee functions.

Among the visitors was Chan’s relative, MCA secretary-general Datuk Ong Ka Chuan.

Also mourning his loss were 30 of Chan’s pupils, who described their teacher as kind and caring.

Many said they found it hard to accept Chan’s oss as they loved his classes, especially the cake-baking sessions.

They said Chan, who loved baking, had taught them to bake to occupy their time as they had just completed their UPSR examination.

Some said they were also looking forward to getting their UPSR results as Chan had promised cash rewards to those who did well in the examination.

Kang Lee Jia, who was seen folding a paper crane, said their teacher brought his own baking utensils and ingredients, and taught them to bake cup cakes last Thursday.

“They were delicious. He promised to bake a chocolate cake yesterday but didn’t come to class.”

——————————————————————————–

Approval needed for school renovations

ALL private schools must obtain the approval of the relevant local authority before carrying out any renovation work to their premises.

Deputy Education Minister Datuk Hon Choon Kim said these schools must submit building plans before starting work.

“They must make sure the work complies with the requirements and the building is safe,” he said after visiting SRJK (C) Keat Hwa (K) in Jalan Seberang Perak following the death of a teacher there.

Hon also ordered the Keat Hwa School Board to engage a consultant to assess the safety of the building. The private Chinese school board administers six schools.

The ministry has approved a RM50,000 emergency allocation for the repairs.

In Kuala Lumpur, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said he had instructed the Public Works Department to investigate the cause of the incident.

（吉隆坡訊）教育部副秘書長（人力資源）拿汀嘉瑪麗雅說，監督吉華K校建築物是學校董事部的責任，教育部只是提供教師、支援職員和基本設施。

她發表文告說，教育部批准5萬令吉給K校以維修陳舊的建築物。

她說，這筆撥款是為了避免悲劇重演。

她表示，吉華K校去年獲得4000令吉以更換及維修已陳舊、毀壞及無法復修的設施。

她說，這所學校在1999年獲得1萬令吉以改善資料中心；2000年也獲1萬令吉興建新建築物。