Bandar Sungai Long residents in Selangor have yet to receive a reply from the education ministry on their appeals for a Chinese primary school to be built in the area.

Member of parliament for Cheras Tan Kok Wai said he submitted a memorandum on Thursday to Education Minister Musa Mohamad and is still waiting for an appointment to see him.

Tan said that he has been trying to get an appointment since August to appeal for a Chinese primary school for the township where the population is expected to reach 30,000 in two years.

"When I raised the matter in Parliament last July, Deputy Education Minister Hon Choon Kim said new consideration will be given to my request but there has been no development so far," he said.

Shortage dire in many areas

The memorandum said there was a pressing need for Chinese schools in the township as 97 percent of its population are Chinese Malaysians. The Kajang Town Council's local planning draft for the period between 1997 to 2001 allocated for the construction of two religious schools, 14 national primary schools and 13 secondary schools, but no vernacular language schools.

Tan said hundreds of Chinese Malaysian students from Bandar Sungai Long are denied the opportunity to study in their mother tongue because of the shortage of vernacular schools. Five Chinese schools in neighbouring areas are already operating at overcapacity and unable to accommodate more students.

He said many residential areas also face a shortage. Selangor and Kuala Lumpur are said to need 40 more schools to meet demand. Areas facing an acute shortage of Chinese schools include Ulu Langat, Petaling Jaya, Subang, Kelang, Damansara, Ampang, Selayang and Puchong; some areas are said to be able to accommodate as many as three new schools.

The government has built only one out of the five pledged during the 1999 general elections, Tan revealed.

He said he planned to raise the issue again during the next parliamentary session.