PENANG – On 19 July 2023, the Chairman of the Three Institutions of Han Chiang, Dato’ Seri Ooi Soo Hing announced the commencement of the groundbreaking ceremony for Han Chiang University College of Communication (HCUC’s) new building, Han Chiang Education City, to take place on 5 August, with the estimated completion time of two years.

He expressed great honor that the board has received the approval of the Transport Minister, YB Anthony Loke, who will preside over the groundbreaking ceremony at Han Chiang’s main field at 10 a.m.

The ceremony marked the official commencement of the new construction project, which includes the main administrative building, teaching blocks, and dormitories. It also involves the redevelopment and enhancement of Han Chiang’s existing premises.

The project is estimated to cost around RM70 million, which is 20 million more than the initially announced estimate of RM50 million. The increase is due to the decision to add dormitories to the original plan, which only included the construction of two buildings.

“The Han Chiang Board of Directors have already raised RM30 million and the remaining funds will be raised through external fundraising. The board hopes that kind-hearted individuals in society will provide their support.” said Dato’ Seri Ooi Soo Hing.

Concept image of Han Chiang Education City

He mentioned that once all the planning is completed, the three institutions of Han Chiang, which currently has over 4,000 students, will be elevated to accommodate 7,000 students in the future. This will provide a comprehensive and integrated educational institution for students from the northern region of Malaysia and even nationwide. In the future, the expanded HCUC campus will be known as “Han Chiang Education City“.

He explained that the Board of the Three Institutions of Han Chiang held a press conference on 11 October 2022 to announce HCUC’s development plan. The board originally planned to submit the blueprint during the end of the year but found some shortcomings in the plan. After several meetings and discussions with the Board of Engineers Malaysia and architects, they decided to add dormitory blocks to enhance the overall development of HCUC.

He continued, stating that on 17 February of this year, the architects submitted the development blueprint online, and on 15 March, they submitted the printed development blueprint to the city council for preliminary consultation.

Furthermore, on 16 June, the architects formally submitted the development blueprint and architectural drawings to the Penang Island City Council. On 22nd June, the city council’s letter allowed HCUC’s new building to commence construction ahead of schedule. Finally, on 26 June, the Board of the Three Institutions of Han Chiang conducted a bidding process for the piling works and selected the successful contractor on 15 July.