Candidates for the PJ Utara parliamentary seat were told by Damansara new village residents not to visit them during the campaigning period unless they supported their stand to re-open the SJK (C) Damansara primary school.

The Save Our School Action Committee (SOS) will hold a campaign titled -'Support Mother Tongue. Re-open the school' - in a bid to convey this message to the candidates.

The campaign will be carried out from Mar 14 to 21 - during the nomination period up to polling day.

Committee spokesperson Choong Pai Chee said residents will put up posters outside their houses during this period.

He added that residents will also not entertain candidates who visit their homes if they do not support the cause.

The Chinese vernacular school was closed on Jan 12, 2001 and its students are temporarily housed in SJK (C) Puay Chai (II) in Jalan SS2, Petaling Jaya until the construction of a new premises in Tropicana is completed.

Authorities claimed that the old premises was unsafe and thus had to be closed while residents argued that they had invested vast sums of money to upgrade the school from a mere wooden structure to a three-storey concrete building with 16 classrooms. It also houses a RM280,000 multi-purpose hall.

At the time of the closure, the school had about 360 students with an average of 12 students per classroom. Residents also argued that this was a more conducive learning environment as opposed to having 40 to 50 students in each class.

While a majority of students moved following the closure, some 60 of them refused to budge and continued their studies in air-conditioned containers placed at a nearby temple. However, at present only 47 students remain.

Examination status

Meanwhile, those who are in standard six are in a dilemma as they have yet to receive a written confirmation from the Education Ministry as to their eligibility to sit for the Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) examination.

According to SOS member Wong Yew Kong, he was given the run-around when he went to the ministry to check on the status of the enrolment.

"I was referred from department to department, told to see this and that officer, which I did without any results.

"They would tell me they are not the ones in charge and would refer to another officer and it went on and on until finally I was told see the minister's deputy secretary Yap Kok Fong," he said.

He added that Yap had later informed him verbally that the students were enrolled for the exam.

Wong said the students had not faced this problem in the past three years. "Why is it different this year?" he asked.

On the old school, the SOS member said residents of Kampung Baru Damansara need the school due to its convenience as it is within walking distance.

"Relocating our students would mean that we have to spend RM70 on school bus fare every month.

"Besides, there is a shortage of Chinese schools and it doesn't make sense for the authorities to shut the school," he added.

It was learnt that the school is sitting on a leasehold title and there is a possibility that the lease has expired but committee member Choong could not confirm this.

If the lease has come to an end, the authorities have the right not to renew it and repossess the land.

The PJ Utara incumbent is Barisan Nasional's MCA candidate Chew Mei Fun (photo left) who will most probably take on a DAP candidate.

DAP has yet to name the candidate but it is speculated that the party's Selangor chief Ronnie Liu will be fielded.