For the past four years the parent-teacher association of the Sungai Bakap Tamil Primary School (SJKT Sungai Bakap) has painstakingly written in to the Penang State Education Department, the Education Ministry as well as to the Prime Minister's Office to request for the building of a new SJKT Sungai Bakap on a plot of land less than 500 metres from where the old school is.

For four strenuous years, the parents of the children at the school have had their hopes raised and dashed because of inconsistencies given by the Education Ministry on its commitment to deliver as promised - a new SJKT Sungai Bakap.

Despite tedious correspondence lobbying for a new school, finally, in December 2012, the Penang State Education Department replied, saying that it has no objection for the new school to be built near the existing school.

Subsequently a letter from the Action Plan for the Future of Tamil Schools under the Prime Minister's Office was sent to the Education Ministry on the critical state of the 67-year-old school building that has been given the ultimatum to relocate from their current location.

In March 2013, the Education Ministry identified a piece of land of 3.475 acres on Lot 464, Mukim 4, Seberang Prai Selatan, to be utilised to build the new school.

Should there be sufficient budget allocation, the ministry would use the allocation for Tamil schools under the “Pakej Rangsangan Khas 2013” for this project and upon completion, the school shall be converted to a government school or 'sekolah kerajaan'.

An email from Prof Dr Rajendran from the Action Plan for the Future of Tamil Schools to Deputy Education Minister P Kamalanathan ( photo ) was sent in June 2013, stating that they have managed to secure a piece of land near the school and had already allocated RM3.5 million under the 2013 budget to be used for the construction of the school.

Lastly, in an article in New Straits Times dated May 26, 2014, Kamalanathan, in his usual self-assuring fashion, claimed that the ministry was vetting its list of Indian contractors to be awarded the project to build the new SJKT Sungai Bakap and that work should start earliest in June 2014 or in early July.

From May 2014 till June 2015, absolutely nothing had been done on that piece of land allocated for the building of a new block and it still remains as status quo, judging by the heavy overgrowth there.

A parliamentary reply by the Education Ministry in October 2014 stated that the ministry has not yet received any application regarding the building of the new Tamil school and if it is justified (based on needs), then the ministry may propose its building in the 11th Malaysian Plan.

If this is so, what would you call all the letters of correspondence between the Prime Minister’s Office, the ministry and SJKT Sungai Bakap to secure a commitment to build the new Tamil school?

In a reply in March 2015, the ministry said the proposal to build a Tamil school in Sungai Bakap has been included in the Pakej Rangsangan Khas with an allocation of RM 3.5 million on Lot 464, Mukim 4, Seberang Perai Selatan.

The school could not be built in due time as the allocation for the Pakej Rangsangan Khas 2013 has already been used up for projects in 2012. This project will be executed using the balance of allocation from PRK 14.

What are the other projects that have absorbed the allocation meant for this school and what is the balance allocation in hand now?

Lastly, in the latest parliamentary reply in May 2015, Sungai Bakap residents were stunned once again when the Education Ministry said it is viewing land for the building of the new school as it needs to exercise care and caution so that this project runs smoothly, especially when dealing with the local authorities.

How is it, therefore, that for more than two years now, a specified lot number had been earmarked and designated for the building of a new school and now a statement of uncertainty is issued?

Judging by the pattern of answers given by the Education Ministry on the Sungai Bakap Tamil school, one can conclude that there is absolutely no correlation between the ministry and the PM’s Office, as well as within the ministry itself, judging by the misleading flip-flop replies given, none of which are conclusive about the building of a new Tamil school in Sungai Bakap.

Is Kamalanathan aware at all about the level of nonsensical replies given in Parliament? If he is aware, then why hasn’t he made a statement to rectify these stupid statments.

And if Kamalanathan is not aware, then a bigger question arises – what exactly is his function as person-in-charge of Tamil schools if something as big as building a new school can slip under his watchful eye?

It is another five years before Malaysia hits her aimed target of becoming a developed nation, as per the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP).

While the 11MP appears as a circus of bright-eyed and bushy-tailed proposals, one cannot help but wonder what good is a well thought of, shiny plan like that of a new building for a dilapidated school is not given the due priority it deserves.

KASTHURI PATTO is vice-chairperson of Penang Wanita DAP and the MP for Batu Kawan.