The Damansara Chinese school issue shows that the MCA places less priority on education and more on its political interests, said Barisan Alternatif Youth leaders today.

"MCA and the other Barisan Nasional parties are more interested in safeguarding their political interest than taking up the issue of education of the people," said Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, Keadilan Youth chief.

"The issue of education is a political issue. The moment politics is steered away from the issue of education, then something is already not right. When BN accuses the opposition of politicising the issue, it is merely political rhetoric," he added, voicing views shared by other BA component party leaders.

Ezam, Mahfuz Omar and Salahuddin Ayoub of PAS, Faizal Sanusi of Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM), Teng Chang Kim of DAP, today visited the present SJK (C) Damansara nestled in a new village to study at first hand the issue of the school embroiled in much controversy since the new school term started in January.

The youth leaders also visited the 73 students who are being schooled at makeshift classrooms on the temple ground nearby.

They also met up with three people who started a hunger strike to save the school this morning. The trio comprised two parents and one former student of the school.

Limited schools

The youth leaders stated that it is obvious that there is a consistency on the part of the government to restrict the number of Chinese schools.

They said that this was despite conflicting statements by the Education Minister Musa Muhamad who said there will be no more discussion on the transfer and by his deputy Hon Choon Kim who is still issuing statements on the issue.

"We had 1,200 vernacular schools built before the independence but after independence, not even 10 percent of that number of schools have been built," said Teng.

Mahfuz said PAS supports the existence of Chinese schools as there are at present 70,000 non-Chinese in Chinese schools nationwide.

"From what we have seen, the present school is in a conducive environment for the students to study and there seems to be no concrete reason why the students should transfer to another school. Furthermore, the school holds a good record in the academic achievement of its students," said Mahfuz.

Ezam said that it is the right of everyone to receive an education.

"There seems to be another motive in the move to Puay Chai (2). We also regret the harsh action by the police yesterday on those who were demonstrating peacefully in front of the ministry," he said.

Victims

The police yesterday arrested four people - among whom were two parents and one former student of the school - when they launched a hunger strike in front of the Education Ministry in Damansara in a protest to save the old school ([#1] Parents stage sit-in protest, four arrested [/#], Feb 5).

"These arrests confirm the perception that BN is willing to use the law for its own agenda," said Ezam.

Faizal said it is unfortunate that the victims of the whole issue are the children.

"We call upon the government to re-open the school so that the children are not victimised. The present site is safe. (MCA president) Dr Ling Liong Sik will be visiting the new site in Tropicana today; we hope he will see it for himself that the new site is unsafe."

Ronnie Liu, the adviser to the action committee to preserve the old school, briefed the youth leaders on the dangers of the new site, which is surrounded by high tension wires, a reservoir and includes a ravine.

Teng said that it is illogical to build a new community hall on the present site of the school, which was one of the reasons for the relocation given by a ministry official.

"Why tear down a school which is needed every day and build a community hall? The village already has a community hall and if that is not enough, the community hall in Section 17, a 10-minute-drive away, which is under-utilised, can be used.

"Furthermore, the community here are mostly Chinese and the temple ground is often used for community functions," said Teng.

Liu informed malaysiakini that the hunger strike by the three will continue and they will decide where to go each morning.

"The strike will go on until this issue is resolved," he added.

Previous story

: