The controversial Chinese primary school in Damansara, Selangor, today had its rare moment of jubilation with eight of its students receiving graduation scrolls and were provided with full sponsorship to further their studies.

Aside from teachers and parents of students, also present were opposition politicians and representatives from prominent community groups such as United Chinese School Committees' and Teachers' Associations, or Dong Jiao Zong, and the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall.

At the ceremony, organisers told the audience that no politicians from the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, including the area's member of parliament Chew Mei Fun, attended the function despite being invited earlier.

The event, marking the closing of this academic year, was held at a temple nearby, which has been housing several air-conditioned containers serving as temporary classrooms for 12 teachers and some 70 remaining students since the closure of the school early this year.

Numerous awards were also given to school children from primary one to six who have excelled in academics and sports.

Volley of protests

In January, the 70-year-old Chinese school was closed down on orders by the Education Ministry who proposed to relocate it to Tropicana, an area which is about half an hour drive from the original site.

Some 1,300 students were then placed in another Chinese primary school pending the completion of their new school.

The move has sparked a volley of protests from the Chinese community who claimed that no clear reasons were given by the government for the closure.

Following that, an action committee has been set up by concerned parents and educationists to plea for the re-opening of the school.

The new site of SJK (C) Damansara in Tropicana was officially opened last month.

Last Friday, Dong Jiao Zong promised to fully subsidise all the eight primary six children from the old school to continue their studies at an independent Chinese school in Klang, Selangor.

The students had reportedly taken the entrance examination. Three can move on to Form One while the remaining five will need to spend a year in Remove Class.

At a press conference after the graduation ceremony, adviser to Save Our School Committee Ronnie Liu called on the board of governors of the new school to keep their words and make an effort towards the re-opening of the 'original' school.

Should the board of governors fail to do so, the committee will keep conducting classes at the temple, he added.

Negotiations to reopen school

Liu also urged the public, especially the local residents, to continue sending their children to the 'original' SJK (C) Damansara.

"We want the original school to be re-opened, or else we shall continue with our lessons that we are giving the students," he said.

Liu said a series of negotiations have been taking place between the committee and officials from Prime Minister's Department.

However, he declined to disclose the identities of the officials from PM's Department as well as the latest progress of the negotiations.

Meanwhile, asked how the school will sustain its operation financially next year, academic supervisor KS Lee said he was confident that the general public will donate money to the school.

Lee added that for next year's admission, there are five students who signed up for standard one thus far.