Penang to secure land ownership for all 28 Tamil schools, says state exco

GEORGE TOWN, June 15 — The Penang government is working towards ensuring all 28 Tamil vernacular schools in the state eventually obtain ownership of their land, said State Housing and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo.

The chairman of the state special committee for Tamil schools said the state is in the process of securing land for all Tamil schools in the state.

He said the committee, which has been in operation for the past three years, has already succeeded in obtaining five pieces of land for five schools, with another five expected to follow within the next two to three years.

“Our focus is very clear. First, we want all 28 Tamil schools in Penang to have their own land,” he said in a press conference after attending a handing over ceremony of an approval letter for the construction of a new building for SJKT Rajaji in Air Itam with deputy education minister Wong Kah Woh.

Sundarajoo said the state had recently allocated a 2.3-acre site for SJKT Rajaji’s relocation project, with the new school building to be constructed through a developer’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) contribution.

“This means the school can be built without financial burden to the state government,” he said.

He said the Rajaji project is part of a broader push to accelerate Tamil school development in Penang, with at least three groundbreaking ceremonies expected to take place this year.

Sundarajoo also said the state would resume work on previously delayed projects, including schools in Sungai Bakap and Juru, both of which are classified as Tamil vernacular schools requiring redevelopment.

He described the developments as a significant milestone for Tamil education in Penang, noting that multiple projects are being advanced simultaneously for the first time under the special committee’s coordination.

“This year will be historic for Tamil schools in Penang because we are able to carry out groundbreaking for three schools within a single year,” he said.

In addition to land and construction efforts, Sundarajoo said the committee is also coordinating support for school infrastructure needs, including furniture such as chairs and desks, with assistance from federal initiatives led by Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (MITRA).

He said the combined efforts of state and federal agencies reflect a coordinated approach to improving Tamil school infrastructure across Penang, particularly for long-established schools facing ageing facilities and space constraints.