This is because more than half of its pupils are Muslim Malays, reports the Borneo Post Online.
Although the sign outside clearly indicates that it is SJK Chung Hua, Spaoh, you can see many Muslim pupils walking along the corridors of the school blocks.
Another nearby Chinese primary school – SJK Chung Hua Debak – also has a staggering percentage of Muslim pupils.
The trend of Bumiputera pupils, both Ibans and Malays, attending Chinese primary schools started as early as the eighties. Now, the Malay pupils are the majority, making up more than 50 per cent of the total student population.
As of January this year, SJK Chung Hua Spaoh had 40 Chinese pupils, 31 Iban pupils and 84 Malay pupils.
“Since the 80s, there has been a steady increase in Bumiputera pupils. While the Bumiputera student population is rising, the number of Chinese pupils are decreasing with many Chinese parents moving out of the area,” its headmaster Lai Ngit Sin was quoted as saying.
He said due to the high percentage of Muslim pupils, and to meet their needs, the school had to recruit two Islamic religious teachers.
Despite the many Bumiputera pupils, compared to their Chinese counterparts, the school’s board of management consists mainly of Chinese. The board continues to raise funds annually to make sure the school runs smoothly.
“They do not mind. To them, as long as the school continues to teach in Chinese, whoever wants to learn Chinese, whether they are Chinese, Malays or Ibans, are welcome,” said Lai.
As a high percentage of the school consists of Bumiputera pupils, the school has also been receiving financial aid and allocations from Betong MP Amar Douglas Uggah and Saribas Assemblyman Mohd Razi Sitam.
In SJK Chung Hua Debak, which is about 10km away, there is also a high percentage of Muslim pupils.