The education ministry has been urged to look into the malpractice alleged by parents to have taken place in connection with the SRJK (C) Damansara issue, currently embroiled in a controversy.

National Union of Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Siva Subramaniam said today that parents who opposed the transfer of SRJK (C) Damansara students to the new SRJK (C) Puay Chai (2) have raised some substantial points which the minister should look into.

"While the union believes that the parents should decide the future of their children, we also feel that the wishes of the majority be carried out," said Siva who refused to say whether the union agreed with the school's relocation.

"The ministry should investigate the allegations that there was malpractice in the request for transfer and the many other issues that the parents have raised.

"The children should not be victims and NUTP also condemns the use of children in demonstrations," said Siva, referring to the sit-in protest by 83 students in front of the education ministry last Monday.

Siva said that NUTP will be meeting deputy education minister Hon Choon Kim this evening to state the union's stand on the school's issue.

The ministry had directed the students of the SRJK (C) Damansara to move to SRJK (C) Puay Chai (2) early this year, citing congestion, pollution and heavy traffic hazard of the Sprint highway nearby.

Commercial development

Although the majority of students have transferred, the villagers who helped build and develop the 70-year-old school said that there was no good enough reason for the move.

The parents of the students who insist that the old school be retained have hinted many times that the land of the school is being eyed by developers and they claimed this is the main reason for the move.

Looking at the lack of discussions with parents and the insistence of the board of governors of SRJK (C) Damansara that the move to Puay Chai (2) be done, the parents said that commercial development might be the only reason for the move and not pollution or congestion or safety of the pupils.

Meanwhile, DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang said parents of the SRJK (C) Damansara pupils should not allow themselves to be divided and start fighting among themselves.

"They should solidly unite on a common stand for a win-win formula of 'one school, two premises' in retaining the old school premises as well as a new school (to be built) at Tropicana," said Lim.

Lim was commenting on the statement by education minister Musa Mohamad on Tuesday that should the school authorities not be able to persuade the remaining students to transfer to Puay Chai (2), all the students would have to return to the old school and the plan for a new school in Tropicana would be canceled.

"While I welcome what the deputy education minister said - that good senses should prevail - the education minister should reconsider his formula and ultimatum so as to remove any form of intimidation or strong-arm tactics, while fully respecting the wishes of all the parents concerned," said Lim.

Root cause

Lim also said that DAP is willing to work in unison with MCA for a workable solution to the Damansara school issue on the basis of a "one school, two premises" formula.

"Instead of trying to politicise the Damansara school issue by launching baseless attacks against the DAP, MCA leaders at all levels, including ministers, should be prepared to sink their differences with the DAP and work together," said Lim.

He was referring to accusations by MCA on DAP publicity secretary Ronnie Liu for his role as adviser to the committee to retain the SRJK (C) Damansara.

"MCA leaders should realise that the root cause of the Damansara school issue is the long standing government refusal to build enough Chinese primary schools to meet increasing demand," said Lim.

He further said that "any government reneging on its agreement to build the new school in Tropicana can only confirm and justify the distrust of Malaysians as to whether the government is bona fide in promoting mother-tongue education.

"The ball is now in MCA's court," said Lim.