The Federation of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese School Alumni Associations held a protest at the SJKC Chin Woo today against the acquisition of part of the primary school’s land by the Tourism and Culture Ministry.

Led by Ng Chee Ping, the chairperson of the federation, 30 protesters unfurled banners depicting slogans 'Save Education, Save Chin Woo Property' and 'We are against acquisition of Chin Woo school land'.

NONE Most of them were the representatives of the alumni association and board members of the Chinese schools in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

The Tourism Ministry is planning to acquire about 15,000 square feet of the 84-year-old Chinese primary school for a Kota Warisan building and a restaurant.

The school had received a letter from the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry on the land acquisition in September last year. A second letter was issue by the ministry, now renamed Tourism and Culture Ministry, after the May 5 general election.

However, the school board is against the move. Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz claimed that the land originally belonged to the ministry, but this has been disputed by the primary school.

Nazri subsequently said that the school could take the ministry to court if it was unhappy with the decision.

Nazri invited to visit school

At a press conference after the protest, Chin Woo board's chairperson Oo Tin Fuan invited Nazri to visit the school to discuss a proposal mooted by the school.

"The (Tourism and) Culture Ministry should come, the minister should come here personally. He's (minister) for all, this is a government (school), he should come," he said.

NONE The acquisition will affect 15 school facilities, including the basketball courts, bus stop, school gate, canteen and four huge trees.

Oo ( centre ) said that should Nazri agree that the basketball courts not be included in the land acquisition, then there is room for negotiation.

According to Oo, the government will launch a second round of land acquisition - this one involving another 15,000 square feet of land to build roads.

80 acres given to 1MDB

Oo claimed that the federal government has more than 130 acres of land surrounding the school and 80 acres of it had been given to government-linked company 1MDB.

"Why they don't acquire the land belonging to 1MDB?" he questioned.

Meanwhile, Chin Woo general-affairs Chew Kee Hui said that the school board will also arrange some board members to meet with Deputy Education Minister Yap Kain Ching to discuss the matter.

However, both Chew and Oo hoped that Yap would visit the school as well.

NONE During the press conference, some officials of the Tourism and Culture Ministry arrived at the school to take measurements of the land slated for the construction project. ( right )

The officers however refused to be interviewed when approached by the media.