SJK (T) Ladang Sungai Salak in Lukut, Negri Sembilan, is relying solely on private donations for its operations - a far cry from the days when the cost of its basic operations were covered.

The school, originally located in a nearby estate, was moved into a two-storey shoplot on June 26, after having 'squatted' in SJK (T) Bandar Springhill since 2002.

School board chairman A Ponniah said the school had collected RM80,000 from the public to renovate the building, including installing air conditioners.

"Now the rental of RM500 and utility bills of RM200 are being paid by donors," he said.

Asked if the school has approached the government for assistance, he said the board had asked for money to buy furniture, but that the district education department rejected the appeal.

"In June, we asked if the education ministry could at least take over payment of one of the utility bills," he said.

"Last month, they agreed verbally to pay the electricity bill for three months - possibly from this month, although we don't know for sure. I guess, after three months, they expect us to find another donor to take care of the bill."

The government, however, has continued to pick up the tab for teachers and supply of books to students.

Nomadic existence

Ponniah, the former state assemblyperson for Port Dickson, also explained the circumstances under which the school had to be relocated from the estate where it had been operating.

" The estate management said they had to cut power supply to the school as the number of students decreased when the workers left the estate," he explained.

The school wrote to the district education department, requesting relocation to a vacant building where SJK (T) Convent Kg Semarak once operated in the same area.

The application was rejected on grounds that the building is on a private land, a claim that Ponniah disputes.

"It's on state land - we can't use the building even though it remains unoccupied to this day."

The school then negotiated with SJK (T) Bandar Springhill for the use of three classrooms. But when the student population there increased, another move became necessary.

Search goes on

The school began looking for an alternative building, which was when they decided to move into the shoplot.

"Even then, the education department rejected our application to relocate to the shoplot. They gave us alternatives like using SJK (T) Bandar Springhill in the afternoons," he said.

"However, we were not keen on this because our students will not come to school if sessions are held in the afternoon."

Ponniah wrote to MIC president S Samy Vellu at the end of last year, relating the predicament and requesting a response within two weeks. There has been no reply.

However, in June, the school received approval to use the shoplot after intervention by the state assemblyperson T Rajagopalu and G Komala Devi, the parliamentary secretary to the education ministry.

Currently, the school, which serves 60 students from Year One to Four currently, is attempting to obtain a 1.2ha piece of state land which has been allocated to SJK (T) Kem Askar, Port Dickson.

The government now wants the Sungai Salak school board to get an approval letter from its Kem Askar counterparts, before the allocation can be switched.

Explaining, Ponniah said: "The site was allocated to SJK (T) Kem Askar as an alternative, since the former commandant of the military camp did not want a Tamil school on the grounds.

"However, before it could move out, there was a change of personnel and the new commandant had no objections to the school remaining in the camp.

"We're on good terms with SJK (T) Kem Askar but can't get its approval to use the land. We understand there are political influences over the decision."

Ponniah also said there has been good response to enrolment in the school despite its unconventional location.

"We easily get more than 100 applications, but cannot accept everyone because of space constraints," he said, adding that there are plans to rent the neighbouring shoplot if the enrolment increases next year.

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