Students' safety takes centre stage as five GE15 candidates converge in Batu

The safety of students from two girls' schools in Batu became the focal point of attention to five aspiring candidates for the Batu parliamentary seat, including its incumbent today.

M Saravanan, a concerned parent, gathered the five at a busy intersection in Jalan Ipoh this afternoon to explain the traffic hazards two of his daughters, and other students of the two schools, face every day.

The schools are SJK (T) Jalan Sentul, and SMK Convent Sentul - both of which share a gate that opens up into the busy Jalan Sentul road.

Neither of the schools has the space nor compound for the parents to drive in and pick up their children, which number about 700 in both schools.

Gathered today to hear the grievances were Batu incumbent MP P Prabakaran, former MP Tian Chua, who's contesting as an independent in the 15th general election (GE15), Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) candidate Wan Azliana Wan Adnan, Warisan's Naganathan Pillai, as well as another independent, Siti Kasim.

According to Saravanan, who has an 11-year-old daughter in the said primary school and a 13-year-old at the secondary school, students have to dice with danger daily when they cross the road, as errant motorists often do not stop at the traffic light there.

“And because the road shoulder is not pliable by cars, parents and school transports stop on the road, right in front of the school, causing a bottleneck traffic congestion at peak hours between noon and 1:30pm,” he said, further claiming that at least five to six road accidents happen at the road yearly.

Part of the traffic plying the road includes heavy vehicles like cement mixers and trucks from nearby construction sites - upping the risk factor, Saravanan noted.

According to Saravanan, he recently quit his position as the chairperson of the SJK(T)'s parent-teacher association (PTA) just to call attention to the issue, as the Education Ministry's protocol stipulates that the PTA cannot engage in “politics”

'Issue has been addressed'

Meanwhile, Prabakaran said the issue voiced out by Saravanan has already been addressed.

According to him, an empty parcel of land located behind the St Joseph Catholic Church, situated next to the schools, had already been tarred and prepared as a pick-up and drop-off point for the parents of the two schools' students.

"The church has agreed to allow the girls to walk through its compound to get to the allocated point," Prabakaran said, adding that he came to know of the issues as soon as he took office in 2018.

He said it took four years of negotiations between the Education Ministry, the church management, the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), and the management of the SJK (C) Chi Man, which is also in the vicinity, to resolve the issue.

The only issue hampering the implementation was the gate erected illegally by the Chinese school, which cuts off traffic to the intended pick-up/drop-off point, he explained.

However, according to Prabakaran, that issue is expected to be resolved in the next few months, as the DBKL has issued a warning notice to the said school to remove the gate.

Candidates came prepared to help

Most of the other candidates were also willing to take up the issue, if elected, with promises that ranged from legal action to amicable discussions with developers, DBKL and stakeholders.

Siti described it as a consequence of bad planning by the local authority.

"The school has a responsibility toward the children and can take action against the local authority.

"I advise you to come to my centre after the elections. We take legal action. I will find lawyers who will take up this cause pro bono,” Siti, who is a lawyer by profession, advised Saravanan.

Meanwhile, Naganathan suggested the construction of a pedestrian bridge that can be constructed to ease the students' problems.

Reluctant to overpromise, Tian Chua said the issue of traffic safety for the girls crossing the road required various parties to meet and come to an amicable resolution.

However, he assured the people there that if elected, the issue would be resolved.

Tian Chua who was a two-term Batu MP, between 2008 and 2018, said he was instrumental in improving the traffic flow of Jalan Sentul and was familiar with the issues there.

Although the five candidates came about the same time, they were careful to keep a comfortable distance from one another, as plainclothes police personnel monitored the situation closely.

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