Members of Chung Hua Old Students’ Association tossing the ‘Yee Sang’ during their annual festive gathering. On second right is organising chairman Johnny Ling. Teo is on the left.
SIBU: Forty needy students of Chung Hua School received ‘ang pows’ as former students hosted their annual festive reunion dinner at a local restaurant on Friday.
Chung Hua School Old Students’ Association chairman Teo Boon Siew said it was gratitude for the school that attracted them to come back because the school had raised, educated and moulded them.
Themed ‘A Heart for the School’, Teo said they had selected 20 needy primary and secondary students to receive ‘ang pows’ as a symbol of love and care.
“We must return to show love and help our ‘mother’ school after it has educated the children of Sibu for more than a century,” he said.
He said they must work with the school because the education development of Chung Hua was not totally funded by the government, and as former students, they must pool their resources together.
Teo was happy their efforts had borne fruit as the school had fared well.
He said they had also worked with the school to apply for an education development grant of RM400,000 last year.
He promised his association would do more to help.
He said former students of Chung Hua were now all over the country.
“Therefore, the annual festive reunion dinner is important, as this is a time when outstation workers return; this is also a night of affection, sharing and giving for Chung Hua former students. Let us treasure this moment,” he pointed out.
The association chairman was proud Chung Hua School had held its head high since it was built by the early settlers of the town.
Teo said they had also invited the residents of Methodist Children’s Home to their dinner to show their care and love towards community building.
The residents also received ‘ang pows’ from the association.
The guest-of-honour was prominent businessment Datuk Tiong Su Kuok.
He was represented by Tang Tung King.
Tang, in his speech, called on former students not to forget their school after they had left.
“For a century, Chung Hua School has built successful figures in all fields; I am happy to see they have returned to pay tribute and show care,” he said.
