Chinese trader gives Tamil school unstinting support for last 30 years

 

A rubber trader of Chinese descent from Sitiawan, Perak, has been supporting a Tamil school for the last 30 years.

It began when Yek Dong Ping purchased a plot of agricultural land in Ayer Tawar for RM330,000, three decades ago. The said school, SJKT Ladang Ayer Tawar, was already operating on the land at the time.

Yek did not only waive the rent for the school, which was occupying half an acre of the land, but he also paid the quit rent for the school, reported MySinchew.

Last year, representatives from the school approached him to buy the land for expansion and refurbishment.

Yek agreed to sell close to three acres for only RM400,000, despite the land being valued at around RM200,000 an acre. The school board did not have the funds ready, but said they would do fundraising and ask for government allocation.

"As the school was sourcing for funds, I expressed my intention to donate RM50,000. So the price was capped at RM350,000.

"A year later, the school representatives approached me again for donation as they were unable to raise the RM350,000," Yek told the Chinese daily.

Praises for Yek’s kindness

At this juncture, Yek generously donated yet another RM50,000, which brought the price of the land to RM300,000.

The two vice headmistresses of the school, which was established in 1938, have nothing but praises for Yek's generosity and kindness.

According to them, aside from not having collected a single sen in rent in the last 30 years and paying the quit rent for the school, Yek also delivers Mandarin oranges to the school every Chinese New Year and sponsors school activities.

"I'm not rich, but I can still afford to pay the quit rent," Yek told MySinchew.

He said his support was a way to "give back" to the Indian rubber tappers who have supported him all these years. - Mkini