Chinese education movement Dong Jiao Zong has asked MCA to apologise and retract its pamphlets published on the SRJK (C) Damansara school issue which the latter claims insulted them and their leaders.

In a press statement today, Dong Jiao Zong stated the MCA leadership had not met the demand of the Chinese community to conserve the school site and had made excuses by saying the relocation of the school was the only solution.

"MCA did not rectify its wrong stand, and further published a pamphlet entitled 'The relocation of SRJK Damansara' criticising Dong Jiao Zong as 'the commandant of the opposition politics', a pawn 'in the chess of the Barisan Alternatif political war' and dividing the unity of the Chinese," said the statement.

"They have seriously distorted the facts and defamed Dong Jiao Zong," it added.

Yesterday, the Sin Chew Jit Poh Chinese daily reported that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad as saying that the cabinet has decided to increase the number of Chinese schools by building four new ones. But it added that another 13 would be relocated.

However, it rejected the demand to conserve the old site of the SRJK (C) Damansara.

Recently, students at the school were directed by the Education Ministry to temporarily transfer to SRJK (C) Puay Chai (II) - a few kilometres away - while awaiting the completion of a new building in Tropicana.

The authorities have been unable to provide concrete explanation as to what would happen to the 70-year-old school and its abandoned site. The majority of the students have moved to Puay Chai (II) but 67 have stayed put, and are continuing their classes at a neighbourhood temple.

Non-Chinese support

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the Civil Rights Committee (CRC) of the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall said if the cabinet intended to increase the number of Chinese schools, then it should have agreed to maintain the SRJK (C) Damansara.

"CRC also urges MCA and Gerakan to stop objecting to efforts to maintain the old school," said the statement.

It said the movement to conserve the SRJK (C) Damansara had highlighted the principle of the right of each community to the school they need and had also gained the support of the non-Chinese.

"MCA claims it represents five million Chinese and as such should fight for the conservation of the old school instead of putting up obstacles," said the CRC statement.