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Tamil schools land issue dragging on an on...

I refer to the Malaysiakini report Concerns over land for Orang Asli, Tamil schools .

A large majority of Tamil schools continue to occupy land that does not belong to them. They are located either on plantation or state land; only a few occupy land that they own. As a result, Tamil schools often operate outside the legal framework. Many occupy buildings that have not been issued a Certificate of Fitness (CF).

So, it was timely, and indeed heartening, to hear PKR’s Jeffrey Kitigan broaching the subject of land for Tamil schools. I wish, however, that he would widen his gaze and look not merely at Selangor but at Kedah and Pulau Pinang, as well.

In total there are 97 Tamil schools in Selangor; of these, 62 schools (or 64%) do not own the land they occupy. In Kedah, there are 58 Tamil schools, of which 44 (76%) sit atop plantation or state land. And, in Pulau Pinang, 19 of the total 28 Tamil schools, or 68%, do not have their own land.

A little over two years have passed since Pakatan Rakyat took control of these three states. We ask: ‘How many land titles have the respective state governments issued to Tamil schools? The answer...drum roll, please...one. Yes, just one.

The Kedah state government has given a new piece of land (5.2 acres), with the title, to SJKT Sungai Toh, Pawang. The Penang government has leased three acres of land to SJKT Batu Kawan and 0.9 acres to SJKT Azad.

And in Selangor, both SJKT Simpang Lima and SJKT Bukit Beruntung have been promised three and 6.5 acres of land respectively.

Perhaps the Pakatan Rakyat-controlled states have some grand plan that we are not privy to to help the 100 or so landless Tamil schools. Perhaps they also plan to help under-enrolled Tamil schools to relocate to more strategic sites. Perhaps.

But who knows... does Khalid Ibrahim know? Or Lim Guan Eng? Or Azizan? They sure are keeping their plans close to their hearts - so close that nothing is visible. I presume they’ll announce all their big plans on the eve of the 13th general election.

Wonder if the ever-gullible Indians will be there to buy their stories then.

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