The closure of the Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) in Besut and Dungun is politically motivated and meant to punish the people in Terengganu for voting PAS to power, Kuala Terengganu PAS member of Parliament, Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad, alleged today.

He claimed that the closure had nothing to do with the present operational system nor the 70 percent allocation intake to local students as claimed by Entrepreneur Development Minister Mohamed Nazri Aziz in Parliament recently.

He said the intake quota was decided in a 1993 agreement between the state foundation, Yayasan Terengganu, and Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), the parent foundation to MRSM, and had posed no problem until recently.

The two colleges have about 300 students. A bone of contention between the state and federal governments is the alleged refusal of the state to allow Terengganu students be relocated in MRSM colleges situated elsewhere in the country.

"When they [federal government] first told the state government that they wanted to close the schools, the only reason given was the lack of facilities. So, the state promised to provide more facilities like air-conditioning and more computers.

"Then they raised the issue of interaction. Although we defended the quota [70 percent reserved for Terengganu residents], we had told Mara that we did not mind if the students are sent to study at MRSM outside the states," said Syed Azman.

Chairperson's assurance

He said Mara chairperson Abu Seman Yusop who met with the MRSM students and parents recently, had assured them that the colleges would not be closed because the system had proved to be successful considering that their students are among the best in the country.

He also said that the government would not take any action that would jeopardise the students' future.

"We thought the chairperson's reassurance had sealed the issue. That was why we were shocked when the state received a letter two weeks ago informing that the schools will be closed beginning next year and the students would be sent to other MRSMs in the country," Syed Azman said.

He said he was shocked by Nazri's reply when he sought an explanation in Parliament on Tuesday.

"Nazri said that the assurance was given by his subordinate. He is the minister and his decision overrides the others, which is to close the schools. Just like that. Without considering the fate of the people in Terengganu," said Syed Azman.

He said the state, despite being among the poorest in the country, had students scoring well in the UPSR examinations. About 2,000 students in the state scored 5As in the UPSR exam.

The colleges were set up to allow bright students from poor families the opportunity to study in a boarding school environment.

Quota system

"With the quota system we can ensure that at least 300 of the very poor students who excel in their studies are able to study in a boarding school," he said.

He said the people are upset with the government's decision to close the college without regard to the fate of the poor students in the state. He believed that the display of such arrogance will only backfire on the BN government.

Asked what the state government planned to do with the college premises, Syed Azman said that the buildings may be used to expand the Islamic Science College which can only accommodate 300 students now.

BN Ajil state assembly representative Rasol Wahid concedes that the closure of the schools would be a loss to the state but said it would be only for the short term.

"On a long-term basis, it would be good because the students will be able to compete with other states. They will also be able to interact with other students in other states," he said.

No neglect

He added that Umno Terengganu will continue with its efforts to help poor children to study at boarding schools.

He denied that the colleges were closed to 'punish' the people for voting PAS and that the plans to close them were made in 1999. PAS took control of the state from BN in the 1999 general elections.

Umno Setiu division chief Tengku Mahmud Tengku Mansor said that the colleges were closed because of the lack of cooperation between the state and the federal governments.

"In matters of education, the state has to accept and follow the policy made by the federal government. The But PAS government failed to do this.

"Matters of education cannot be politicised. PAS doesn't seem to be concerned with this and because of that the people of Terengganu are the ones who are suffering," he said.

He pointed out that such problems would have never arisen if BN was still the state government.