An action group which is taking on the fight to reopen a Chinese primary school in Damansara, Selangor, today called on the school's board of governors to make a clear stand on whether it supports their plight.

The group, Save Our School (SOS) committee, expressed this at a special press conference in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

Committee chairperson Tommy Chin said they were disappointed with the school governors who failed to keep their word to help them in their cause.

"The governors, especially their chairperson Ng Kok See, had promised to help us re-open the original school once the new one (in Tropicana) was completed," he said.

"Now they are saying that the board had only wanted to trade in the small, original school for a big, new one and the issue is all over," he added.

On Sunday, the board of governors convened for their annual general meeting which was attended by 37 out of 88 sponsors of the school.

As vernacular schools receive limited government subsidies for development, Chinese schools usually organise fund-raising events and look for sponsors within the community every year.

Sunday's AGM was meant to update sponsors on the progress of the new school which was completed in September, as well as to vote on the resolution to re-open the original school which was closed down 338 days ago.

However, the meeting was met with protests from SOS supporters who questioned its legitimacy.

SOS claimed several influential pro-MCA governors had deliberately stopped the proposed resolution from being raised at the AGM, adding that sponsors who could have been in favour of re-opening the old school were not notified about the meeting.

The committee also criticised the board for rejecting without any valid reason, some 200 applications submitted by SOS to become sponsors of the new school.

Controversial closure

The 70-year SJK (C) Damansara was closed down on Jan 3 this year following a notice from the Education Ministry to relocate it to Tropicana.

The decision did not sit well with some parents who questioned the rationale given by the authorities for the move.

While most of the pupils agreed to be housed temporarily at SJK (C) Puay Chai II, about 100 pupils remained to study at the old site.

However, they were barred from entering within a fortnight, following which classes were conducted in makeshift classrooms in the compound of a neighbouring temple.

Some 10 teachers taught the pupils who totalled 74 before the school year ended last month.

The original school, with all its facilities inside, has been locked since early this year to prevent anyone from entering the premises. The move sparked a volley of protest from the Chinese community.

Several civil groups as well as opposition leaders have visited and voiced their support for the re-opening of the old premises.

Legal action

SOS committee member Wong Yew Kong told reporters today the group is considering taking legal action against the board of governors should it fail to keep its word.

"We have lawyer friends looking into the matter now," he said.

Wong said many parents and sponsors were upset with the board as it did not consult them when it submitted an application to relocate the school in 1999.

He claimed the new school in Tropicana was completed relatively fast within eight months mainly because there was pressure from SOS which was backed by the Chinese community, but "the board just overlooked their contribution".

Board chairperson Ng could not be reached for comment.