JOHOR BARU: The Education Ministry should ensure the newly built SJKC Poay Chai can start operating when the new school term begins, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

The MCA president said it would make more sense for the school - relocated from Singkir, Kedah, to Bukit Indah, Johor - to be open before students enrol at a different school.

"I hope that the Education Ministry will allow the school to operate by the beginning of the new session in March rather than in June as students would then have to move from another school to this new one after just three months," said Dr Wee.

He added that teachers would also have to be relocated from somewhere else to this school.

"It is just not practical; why must parents send their children to one school and then transfer them to another one after a few months," he said.

He said this at a press conference after chairing the Johor MCA meeting at its headquarters on Saturday (Jan 27).

Dr Wee added that many parents in Bukit Indah have been eagerly waiting for the school's opening as it is nearer to their homes.

"Some said that the school may not be able to be open by March, but I have worked in the Ministry before. It is possible," he said.

"We have another two months, so you can just get everything done. I remember during my time, we had less than one month, just three weeks to make it happen, and we did it," added Dr Wee, who also said the school has been completed at a cost of RM13mil.

He said that parents are currently sending their children to schools that are further away from their homes.

"Bukit Indah is one of the biggest residential areas here, and I think you can easily get 1,000 students waiting to have a school in the area," said Dr Wee.

"Many of the parents there also work in Singapore. As such, it will be much more convenient for them to send their kids to a school nearer to their house," he added.