Pantai Valley Rotarian Donates RM2.5M Land and RM435k for School
Rotarian fulfill's late Father's wish of Land for Chinese School in Tanjung Kling
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Tribute to Indian philanthropist who donated land for Chinese school
Before he died, philanthropist Datuk Dr G. Ganesha gave away a 0.5ha plot of land to relocate an 83-year-old local Chinese primary school near Melaka. On Monday, his son G.N. Chidammparam was among state dignitaries at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new building of SRK (C) Ek Tek in Tanjung Kling.
It was a touching moment for Chidammparam when Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, who performed the groundbreaking, gave a glowing tribute to his late father. Chidammparam, who is now the chief executive officer of the Datuk Dr Ganesha Group Of Companies, said his father used to donate to charity causes for the Indian community and local Tamil schools, including providing cash and school uniforms.
He said he was surprised that Dr Ganesha, who died of a heart attack at the age of 72 on Feb 25, 2001, wanted to donate a piece of land for a Chinese school. “But no one could stop him,” he said, adding that his father’s decision was made during his old age.
SRK (C) Ek Tee was set up in 1921 and in 1995 faced a lawsuit, brought against it by the Datuk Dr Ganesha Group. In 2000, however, Dr Ganesha changed his mind about evicting the school from the land and, instead, made an offer of a new site, worth RM2.5mil to relocate the school. On top of that his company donated RM435,000 to the school. In his speech, Mohd Ali also extended his gratitude to the philanthropist on the generous offer he had made to the school.
State MCA chairman Datuk Wira Poh Ah Tiam, who was present at the groundbreaking ceremony, said it was a win-win situation that benefited both the school and the late Dr Ganesha’s company. Also present were state education committee chairman Datuk Yaakub Md Amin, state education director Dr Sallah Hassan and Pantai Kundur state assemblyman Abdul Rahaman Abdul Karim, who donated RM1,000 to the school PTA. -STAR-
http://www.mca.org.my/story.asp?file=/articles/news/2004/7/29/26990.html&sec=In+The+News
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