The police came in one truck, two Pajeros and one Kancil to the Chee Wen School ground breaking ceremony. Not to mention the many Special Branch officers spotted among the crowd. It seems malicious rumours had gone around that the ceremony would be disrupted.

Television and newspapers reporters turned up in droves expecting a field day. Some were heard after the ceremony expressing their disappointment that no commotion or disruption had taken place.

It is in the interest of the parents and community to ensure that the construction starts as fast as possible, despite the failure to complete by end Dec 2001 as promised earlier. There is no reason for anybody to engage in any acts of disruption.

Whoever spread such irresponsible rumors should be harshly condemned.

The ceremony itself was more like a MCA affair as there were more party members than parents. Front row seats were fully occupied by MCA Wanita members. The master of ceremony was also an MCA member, going by the MCA logo on his white shirt. Neither the school headmaster nor the PTA was given the opportunity to speak.

What was more sickening was when the speakers repeatedly heaped praises on themselves, to the thunderous applause of Wanita members seated in front. Eat your heart out! It was truly an MCA show. Their shameless behaviour was nauseating.

One of the speakers said the ceremony was unique and the first of its kind as there was no building like it yet. I presumed this meant that previous ground breaking ceremonies were only for additional blocks.

From a different perspective, this is also probably unique and the first of its kind going by the fact that Chee Wen, despite being a fully-aided school, was forced to seek donations from the community to bear the bulk of the construction costs.

A ceremony is just a ceremony. What is more important is that construction must start immediately so that at least one block is completed in January 2003. We have seen cases whereby construction is started months after the ground-breaking ceremony. I am sure the community would be keeping a close tab on the progress of the school construction.