Students who stay put in old school and refused to move to a new school will be considered having played truant ( tuang sekolah ), said deputy education minister Hon Choon Kim today.

Commenting on the status of students of SRJK (C) Damansara who refused to be moved to another school SRJK (C) Puay Chai (2), Hon told malaysiakini that they would be recorded as having tuang sekolah if the students do not report to school by next Monday.

Hon had earlier been reported to have said " buang sekolah " (expell from school), which he denied.

On Tuesday, about 150 students decided not to report for classes in their new school and have instead went to their old school.

According to a primary school teacher, students who play truant for more than "a period of time" will be issued with three warning letters before expulsion.

"The period of time is normally three weeks but it can differ from school to school.

"By the time the three letters are issued, it can be months before the student is expelled. The directive of the ministry is, however, to take all steps to keep students as long as possible," said the teacher.

On reports that he had said that police action will be taken in this case while visiting Puay Chai (2) this morning, Hon denied that he had said that.

"I did not mention such a thing," said Hon when contacted by phone.

At present, eight voluntary teachers - comprising retired headmasters and teachers, and fresh graduates - are teaching the 150-odd students at SRJK (C) Damansara.

'This is a democratic country'

Ronnie Liew, chairman of an action committee set up to preserve the old school, said that these teachers have volunteered on a humanitarian basis and is a temporary measure until the education ministry sends teachers to the school.

In questioning whether it was "proper" for these volunteer teachers going to the school to teach, Hon said: "Is this right? You tell me, is this right?"

Hon also said if SRJK (C) Damansara should be cleared completely if all the students comply by moving next Monday, the ministry has no plans for the old school at the moment.

"We have not decided what to do with the school yet but we will maintain the buildings. Yes, the board of directors own a part of the land but then, most of the land belongs to the government.

"I have no idea what will happen to the old school," said Hon, when pressed on the future of 70-year-old SRJK (C) Damansara.

Hon said that the move to Puay Chai (2) is in line with the request of the board of directors who feel that the school is no more conducive to the students's studying environment.

"The board of directors had also agreed to pay one year's bus fare so as to make it easy for the students to attend school," said Hon.

On what will happen to the students from Damansara New Village who cannot afford the bus fare after the one year, Hon said, "They (parents and villagers) can give a hundred and one reasons."

Hon also said that Chinese educationists who support the preservation of SRJK (C) Damansara can say what they want as "this is a democratic country".

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