I went back to SJK(C) Ting Hwa in Malacca, my primary school 30 years ago, during the single stream and multiple stream controversy.

It was a small-sized Chinese school at first but the number of students increased as the urban area were expanded and some new residential areas were built over the past 10 years. Thus, new buildings were required to meet the needs.

The school held a fund-raising dinner, inviting the alumni to participate. I brought 120 books with me, hoping to raise funds for the school.

It was not a difficult task for Chinese schools to raise a few hundred thousand ringgit or a few million ringgit in metropolitan areas. I heard that some VIPs and businessmen enjoyed a charity dinner held by a Chinese independent school in Kuala Lumpur while making donation of up to RM8 million.

They should be praised for their kindness. The school was so fortunate to have such generous sponsors and directors.

However, many Chinese schools in small towns and rural areas could only envy the school as they usually had to work really hard in order to raise only a few hundred thousand ringgit.

To tell the truth, these schools were more in need for funds compared to schools in urban areas. Sometimes, they were unable to find the students a classroom even a new school year was just around the corner. And sometimes, the old school buildings threatened the safety of students and teachers.

Of course, these were old problems. The lack of government funding has been a long pain. Also, the unequal distribution of social resources brought small economic scale in small towns and rural areas, making it hard for local communities to provide more help.

These schools have been left to survive on their own over the past few decades.

SJK(C) Ting Hwa was founded half a century ago based of a cultural call and a strong will of local ancestors.

My grandfather lent the school a piece of land and collected only symbolic rental of a few ringgit every year until the school was relocated for expansion. He never complaint or saw it as a failed investment.

And thus, his grandsons and children as well received the bestowment.

During the fund-raising dinner, I met my teachers who were over 70 years old and my middle-aged classmates. Of course we were having mixed-feeling when recalling the old school days but at the same time, we were glad that we had planted out roots there, which allowed us to enjoy the fruits when we grew up.

It would be unnecessary to talk about only a single stream is consistent with the national condition. (By TAY TIAN YAN/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily)