The Action Committee to Save SJK (C) Damansara is appealing to the police to allow volunteers into the school this Sunday to clean up the school, which has not been maintained since its was cordoned off by the Education Ministry three months ago.

Action committee chairperson Ronnie Liu said, "We are offering to clean up the school in sincerity as all that we want to do is to ensure its cleanliness and uphold its image the way it used to be so as to make sure it is still a conducive [place for studying].

"We do not want to the school to be in shambles and not maintained, [as such conditions] will be used as an excuse by those who say that SJK Damansara is not conducive for studying," said Liu.

The unkept condition of the school was discovered when residents of Damansara New Village were allowed in to clean the compound last weekend.

"They could only clean up a few places, but even so, much rubbish was collected," said Liu.

In the application to the Chief Police Officer of Selangor Nik Ismail Nik Yusuf, the action committee stated that the police should uphold their credibility by allowing the volunteers to clean up the school.

Clean-up campaign

Despite a January directive from the Education Ministry for 1,400 students of the old school to move to nearby SJK (C) Puay Chai (II) temporarily until the new school in Tropicana is ready, some 60 parents were adamant in protesting the move.

Their children have been continuing lessons in makeshift classes at the temple grounds nearby as the Damansara school has been sealed off by the ministry and guarded by police.

Liu said that all former and present students, teachers, as well as members of the parent-teacher association and the school's board of governors are invited to attend the gotong-royong to clean up the school, along with those who are concerned about saving the school.

"The clean-up campaign will start at 9am and all are asked to gather at the temple nearby. In the spirit of togetherness, we call upon volunteers to bring their families and their own brooms and other cleaning instruments.

"There will also be a launching of a signboard to state the number of days the campaign to save the school has been going on," said Liu.