Two motions condemning the closure of the Mara Junior Science Colleges (MRSM) in Terengganu have been tabled in Parliament as PAS pledged to keep pushing the controversy-ridden closure.

The two motions were tabled by PAS Kuala Terengganu member of Parliament Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi ( photo ) and Setiu MP Che Ghani Che Ambak. They urged that the motions - which are the third and fourth by the party - be debated in the House.

Syed Azman however expressed little hope that the issue would actually be debated, but said he would continue to raise the matter in order to keep the issue alive.

"We know the motion will not be debated, but our intention is to maintain the public's awareness of what happened. This is a very important issue that cannot be allowed to fade away," he told malaysiakini at Parliament's lobby today.

Entrepreneur Development Minister Mohd Nazri Aziz ( right ) announced the closure of the two MRSM last year. He defended the decision on grounds of "principles".

Another debate?

In his motion, Syed Azman criticised the move as being motivated by "narrow politics" and Umno's culture of "vindictiveness".

He said Parliament was one way in which the issue could be kept alive.

"However, the party will also continue to keep the issue in the foreground elsewhere, such as in public speeches, statements to the mass media and whenever the need arises to bring up the topic," Azman added.

He said he would welcome another debate with Nazri on the issue after the first one, scheduled to take place in July, was cancelled due to "security concerns".

The issue was urgent because it has to do with hundreds of young people whose future were at stake, Syed Azman added.

The PAS leader also expressed confidence that justice would eventually be served.

He said this was already reflected in the interest that the public had shown in the issue by the sale of PAS' booklet entitled "Penghianatan Umno Terhadap Bangsa Melayu serta Rakyat Terengganu" (Umno's Treachery Against Malays and the Terengganu People).

He said he was pleasantly surprised when 20,000 copies of the booklet were "swept up" by the public in Terengganu alone.

Nowhere to go

Echoing Syed Azman's sentiments, Che Ghani said it was important for the issue to be kept in the foreground in as many arenas as possible, including bringing up the issue to the highest authority.

"We are talking about hundreds of young people whose educational future has been rendered uncertain. There may be a small number of them who are placed in various Mara junior colleges elsewhere in the country, but there remains a large number who have nowhere to go," he said.

"The MRSM in Dungun ( photo ) was producing some of the best UPSR results in the country, but with both MRSMs' closure, what's going to happen to the several hundreds of students from Terengganu?" Che Ghani asked.

In his motion, he blasted the government's announcement that the two MRSMs would be reopened if Barisan Nasional wins Terengganu back in the next general election. This is the third motion by the PAS politician on the MRSM closure.

Negating the possibility of taking legal action against the minister, Che Ghani said the last resort was for the people to decide by voting against the BN in the elections.

"That is the best opportunity for the people to express their judgement as to whether they agree or disagree with the decision of the Barisan Nasional government to close the two colleges in Terengganu," he added.