Press Conference on MOE’s rejection of school buildings in Puchong

I held a press conference today in Puchong, alongside YB Gobind Singh Deo (MP Puchong) and YB Fong Kui Lun (MP Bukit Bintang and DAP National Treasurer), on the issue of the Ministry of Education’s rejection of requests by schools to build its branch premises in Selangor.

Also present at the PC were representatives from the school committees (SJKC Yak Chee & SMKJ Katholik) who have been carrying forward this issue for the past few years.

The Selangor State Goverment has approved land for the building of branches to these schools, as well as allocated land for the National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM) to build its school. However, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has rejected the request for these schools to build new premises or branches in this newly approved land.

 

At the PC, I questioned the motives and actions of the Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, MCA’s Chua Soi Lek and Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong – who have in the past often bombarded the Selangor government claiming we did not provide land to the MOE to build schools in the state. However, since we have now found plots of land for these schools, the MOE has turned down the offers and hampered our efforts to help these schools build their much needed branches. So it’s time for me to ask Muhyiddin and Wee Ka Siong – “How do you explain this decision?”

When the state government approved the land application by Yak Chee and Katholik High, on 23rd Sept, the relevant body in the state subsequently wrote to the MOE to obtain its endorsement and approval to build the school premises on these grounds. However, in a written reply on 25 November, the MOE rejected this request. The land for these schools is still under the jurisdiction of the state government and has not been handed over to the federal government. However, the Education Act requires that the MOE approves the building of the school structures.

Sdr. Gobind and Sdr. Fong also questioned the rationale of the MOE in rejecting the schools’ request, and said they will be raising these concerns in Parliament at the next sitting.

Sdr. Gobind said, “The decision by MOE, as in the letter, clearly shows that the BN govt is not connected with what’s happening in the Puchong area. Every year when the time comes for students to enroll in these schools, there is an issue of there not being enough space. Many parents complain about this and have taken it to MCA, whom have said they would address the matter. But it looks like they don’t walk the talk. So we want an explanation from the BN government. We at Selangor have done all we can to find an immediate solution to the problem but it looks like the BN government doesn’t take this matter seriously.”

Sdr. Fong added, “Katholik High was established in 1956. It is one of the oldest schools in PJ. There are many secondary school students who want to continue learning in the Chinese language and many other students – from all ethnic backgrounds – are keen on enrolling in the school. There is a lack of such secondary schools in Puchong and these news branches would benefit the area.”

According to the schools’ committees, there are currently 4000 students enrolled in SJKC Yak Chee and about 3400 students at SMJK Katholik. These schools can only cater to students at a comfortable rate of about 2000 students. That is why they want to build these new branches.

Committee members also asked why the DPM Muhyiddin, who had previously committed to the development of these vernacular schools, now rejected it when there is land available.

I hope that the MOE reconsiders its decisions and values the education of these students more than its politics.