The Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) will be meeting with the SJK (C) Damansara board of governors over a memorandum that the action committee to save the school handed over to the Commission earlier this month.

"I will definitely enquire (from them about the matter)," Suhakam commissioner Anuar Zainal Abidin said. "I have to get both sides of the story.

"I was supposed to meet the board of governors on Monday. I tried to contact them but they were not there so I will try again. Whenever they are ready to come, I will meet them," he told reporters today at Suhakam headquarters.

The action committee to save SJK (C) Damansara on March 1 presented a memorandum to Suhakam, requesting an inquiry into alleged violation of human rights in the relocation of the Chinese school in Petaling Jaya. ([#1] D'sara school villagers appeal to Suhakam [/#], March 1)

According to the memorandum, the villagers' human rights are being violated because the school which the villagers have helped to build was closed down with no valid reason given by the authorities.

Education involved

When asked if there was a credible case for further investigation, Anuar said that "since the action committee has handedin the memo, I must also hear what the other side has to say".

As to what aspect of human rights had been raised in the memorandum, he said it related to a child's rights to education.

"Even if there is no question of human rights, it should be looked into, because education is involved," said Anuar.

Anuar added that he has raised the SJK (C) Damansara school issue at a Suhakam meeting yesterday.

"I put the matter before the Commission and briefed them on what is happening. I have also told them I would be meeting with the school board," he said.

Asked if he would be meeting with Education Ministry officials he said that "he had not thought about it yet".

Wide-scale demonstrations

When asked to comment on the recent arrest of Keadilan youth chief Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor pertaining to his 'seditious' statements as alleged by Mingguan Malaysia , Anuar said that he "had no comment".

Ezam was arrested on Monday after a Mingguan Malaysia report on Sunday that alleged the opposition leader of stating that he "admitted to planning to launch wide-scale demonstrations to topple the government chosen by the people".

However, Ezam denied making such statements in Monday's edition of the Utusan Malaysia daily.

Ezam was arrested following two police reports lodged against him by Dang Wangi CID chief DSP Yusof Shafie and Umno Youth secretary Zulkifli Alwi. ([#2] Ezam remanded over sedition charge [/#], March 7)