SJK (C) Cheah Fah has begun the second phase of its expansion, backed by a RM23 million investment from Sunway Group, to accommodate rising student enrolment as Johor’s southern corridor continues to grow.
The primary school, which opened in 2022 with RM18 million in funding from Sunway Group and the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, was the first of 10 Chinese national-type schools approved under the Johor state government’s allocation.
Sunway City Iskandar Puteri chief executive officer Gerard Soosay said the expansion reflects the increasing demand for quality education as the township evolves into a family-oriented community.
“Education remains one of the most powerful pathways out of poverty and a key driver of social mobility. This expansion ensures that public schooling capacity grows alongside the increasing population in the area,” he said in a statement.
Currently, the school has more than 820 students and is approaching its existing capacity of 1,000 pupils.
The new expansion will add 12 classrooms, increasing the school’s capacity to about 1,500 students. The canteen will also be upgraded to accommodate all students at the same time.
The design of the new facilities also takes into account possible future policy changes, including the government’s proposal to allow six-year-olds to enrol directly into Standard One.
To date, Sunway has contributed RM23 million to the school, including an additional RM5 million pledged following a fundraising dinner held in 2025, which raised RM1 million from more than 900 donors.
According to Sunway, construction will proceed without disrupting ongoing classes and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The expansion comes amid renewed economic momentum in Johor, driven by rising industrial investments, increased cross-border activity and growing residential demand.
Once completed, the expanded campus is expected to further strengthen Sunway City Iskandar Puteri’s position as a family-focused township centred on education, while reflecting Sunway’s continued support for national-type schools.
SJK (C) Cheah Fah is one of eight schools nationwide adopted by Sunway Group and the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, Malaysia’s largest education-focused social enterprise. To date, the foundation and Sunway have contributed more than RM62 million to these schools and awarded over RM967 million in scholarships and grants to thousands of students across the country.
