Twenty-seven opposition members of Parliament who tried to visit the controversial SJK (C) Damansara school this afternoon were barred from entering the premises by the police.

Petaling Jaya Chief Inspector Idris Abdul Karim, who met the Barisan Alternatif MPs and the Save Our School Action Committee at the school gate, said that he had been ordered by his boss, OCPD Mustafa Syeikh Ahmad, to stop people from entering the school.

"I am just following orders. I was told from the start (of my posting here) that we are not allowed to let anyone in," he told the MPs and reporters who were covering the event.

However, the officer's words were challenged by Opposition Leader Fadzil Noor, who learnt that another police officer had earlier permitted some cleaners to go in.

"Two hours ago, people were allowed in to clean up and wash the school. Why has the decision changed now?" Fadzil asked and pleaded with the officer for about 10 minutes to be let in but to no avail.

The PAS president and MP for Pendang said the MPs came to get a clearer picture of the struggle to maintain the 70-year-old school by some of the students' parents.

The parents are fighting an Education Ministry directive enforced since the year started, that all the school's students be transferred to SJK (C) Puay Chai II while awaiting the completion of the new building in Tropicana.

An initial 67 students who defied the order by studying at a nearby temple grew to 74 and today 72. They are presently continuing their schooling at a neighbourhood temple. According to Education Minister Musa Mohamad, these students will no longer be recognised by the ministry ([#1] D'sara school students to be expelled: Musa [/#], March 20).

The students are rebelling against the ministry's decision as they were dissatisfied with the authorities' rationale for the relocation as well as the lack of information on the future of the 70-year-old school once it is abandoned.

One of the explanations is that the environment of the school is not safe for the students, which led to the MPs' attempt to inspect the school today to see for themselves the actual condition of the old school.

Community's right

With their plans thwarted today, the BA MPs and about 50 SOS supporters then proceeded to the temple compound for lunch, and were serenaded with the popular local folk song Rasa Sayang and the campaign song Save Our School by about 70 children from the neighbourhood.

Fadzil said the school is a legacy and every community has the right to protect their tradition. He urged the government to review its decision to relocate the school.

"Their demands are reasonable, fair and in line with democratic principles. The government has no right to deny any community their right to maintain their culture and history," he added.

DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock said that he would not be surprised if Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad will say tomorrow that PAS had agreed to visit the school to gain the support of the Chinese community.

However, he said, BA will continue to carry out activities that are in the best interest of the people.

"Wherever there is injustice, we will be there. Umno or Barisan Nasional will finally realise that this is the right thing to do for any political party," said Kerk, reiterating Fadzil's words on the rights of a community.

Keadilan MP for Peringat Muhammad Mustafa said that the education minister did not give the real picture of the school relocation issue.

Musa explained in Parliament recently that the government agreed to the relocation because the parents had agreed to it.

"What we see now is a different picture. Keadilan supports fully the parents' struggle to maintain this school," Muhammad said.

Personal invitation to MPs

On Wednesday, SOS committee members went to the Parliament to invite the people's representatives to visit the school ([#2] MPs invited to visit SJK(C) D'sara [/#], March 22).

It is learnt that a few BN MPs had agreed to come, although they did not sign the acknowledgment for the invitation.

The SOS committee also handed the MPs a report detailing nine facts to do with the school, which they claimed had not been disclosed by the Education Ministry.