PETALING JAYA: The board of directors of SJKC Kheow Bin has agreed to convert the adjacent land for school use before applying for an extension of the land lease.

The decision was reached after the school’s board met with Selangor state executive councilor Ng Sze Han at the Selangor state government building on Wednesday.

The land conversion will allow the Selangor government to calculate the lease rate based on school use rather than commercial use.

In a joint statement issued by the school board and Ng, both parties confirmed that a consensus was achieved on the land status.

The meeting also addressed several related matters, during which the board was briefed on land procedures.

“Both parties discussed several feasible solutions, with the focus placed on the interest of the school. We want the matter to be resolved in a professional manner,” the statement said.

The state government and the school board will continue follow-ups to resolve the issue, it added.

SJKC Kheow Bin recently launched a fundraising campaign to extend the 99-year lease of the commercial land adjacent to the school, which costs RM6.17 million.

Built in 1935, the school is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. The board of directors and the Parent-Teacher Association have decided to raise funds to secure the lease extension.

A commercial hall was previously built on the adjacent land, with profits from the hall channeled towards the school’s development.