The struggle to re-open the SOS
Damansara enters 1000 days
Media Statement
by Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew
(Petaling Jaya, Friday):
SJKC Damansara Save our School
Committee (SOS Damansara) marks the 1000 days of struggle with a series of
events from 26 September to 28 September. All events will be held at the
Yuan Liang Temple in Section 17A Danmansara New Village.
The BN government has been
relying on its delaying tactics, hoping to wear out the fighting spirit and
capacity of the SOS committee members and supporters. This tactic has
obviously failed as the struggle enters 1,000 days, with a collection of
public contributions amounting to around RM800, 000.
Educationists like Cikgu Loot
Tin Yee, Quek Suan Hiang, Dr Yap Sin Tian and several Members of Parliament
will join hundreds of other supporters all over the country to reaffirm
their support for the SOS Damansara team.
News has it that the Education
Ministry has sent a team to take pictures of the original SJKC Damansara.
Some has even claimed that there was a team of contractors being sent to
carry out some renovations and cleaning for the security guardhouse and the
school buildings. Many have seen this latest development as positive sign
for the re-opening in time for the next general election.
The Chinese community have been
pressuring the BN Government leaders to respect the aspiration of the
community in the country by immediately re-open the original SJKC Damansara.
Tommy Chin Keh Kong, the secretary of the committee, has openly invited the
two new MCA leaders Ong Ka Ting and Chan Kong Choy to pay a visit to the
Damansara School in June this year. He described the re-opening of the
Damansara School as a real and immediate test for the new MCA leadership.
Every community deserves its
own school. The forefathers of this village built the original Damansara
School more than 73 years ago. It happens to be the first Chinese primary
school in Petaling Jaya, long before Chin Woo, Yoke Chai, Puay Chai and
other schools set foot in Petaling Jaya. Its student intake had reached more
than 1,450 before it was ordered to close down in January 2000 as a result
of a strong lobby by the MCA local elected representatives.
(26/9/2003)
* Ronnie Liu Tian
Khiew, DAP national education bureau chairman
|
http://dapmalaysia.org