Residents up in arms over abandoned school
Kamles KumarPublished: Jun 13, 2014 8:48 AM | Updated: Jun 13, 2014 9:45 AM
SK Danau Perdana in Taman Desa, abandoned for over 10 years, has become an eyesore for residents there.
SK Danau Perdana in Taman Desa, abandoned for over 10 years, has become an eyesore for residents there.
They voiced their concerns at a press conference held earlier today by Seputeh MP Teresa Kok and the Taman Desa Residents Association at the school compound.
“We are very unhappy with the pace of action from the Education Ministry. This place has not only become an eyesore but has also become a rubbish dump, a dwelling for drug addicts and for mosquitoes to breed,” Kok said, adding that the government has only recently bothered about the case.
She followed up the issue with a query to Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday at Parliament which proved futile as there was no clear-cut answer.
“The ministry is not bothered about the issue even though I have raised it multiple times.”
She was told by the minister that the case was still being resolved and no action could be taken for now as it is still all tied up in legal work.
She was also told that the Education Ministry was still finding a consultant to appraise the damages to the school and can only take minimal measures for now.
Standard reply from minister
“The arbitration process between the government and the contractor is still on-going. According to them, the case has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Chambers and still is waiting an answer from them before any further action can be taken” added the Seputeh MP.
“For the time being, they said they would be hiring security guards and cleaners to come once every three months to clean the school compound and keep it safe,” she said, quoting from the reply she received from the minister in Parliament.
The school, located on Jalan 1/109 F, Taman Desa, Off Old Klang Road, was only used for a few months in 2003 before students were evacuated over safety concerns.
According to the president of Taman Desa Residents Association William Chan (fourth from left in photo), among the safety concerns over the abandoned school were cracks in the structure, with some even claiming that it was sinking.
“The place had become dangerous and disrupting the lifestyle over here. Having children growing up among drug addicts is detrimental,” he added.
Even though there had been numerous complaints from the residents, action has yet to be taken.
“The reason that we called he press conference is to let the public know the ineffectiveness of the government and Education Ministry in particular,” he said.
He believes that the government should take counter-measures and make use of the building for other purposes.
“This space can be used to build either a district police headquarters or a Chinese primary school” he said, referring to Kok’s suggestion that it be converted into a Chinese primary school as there was a lack of such schools in her constituency.
They voiced their concerns at a press conference held earlier today by Seputeh MP Teresa Kok and the Taman Desa Residents Association at the school compound.
“We are very unhappy with the pace of action from the Education Ministry. This place has not only become an eyesore but has also become a rubbish dump, a dwelling for drug addicts and for mosquitoes to breed,” Kok said, adding that the government has only recently bothered about the case.She followed up the issue with a query to Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday at Parliament which proved futile as there was no clear-cut answer.
“The ministry is not bothered about the issue even though I have raised it multiple times.”
She was told by the minister that the case was still being resolved and no action could be taken for now as it is still all tied up in legal work.
She was also told that the Education Ministry was still finding a consultant to appraise the damages to the school and can only take minimal measures for now.
Standard reply from minister
“The arbitration process between the government and the contractor is still on-going. According to them, the case has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Chambers and still is waiting an answer from them before any further action can be taken” added the Seputeh MP.
“For the time being, they said they would be hiring security guards and cleaners to come once every three months to clean the school compound and keep it safe,” she said, quoting from the reply she received from the minister in Parliament.
The school, located on Jalan 1/109 F, Taman Desa, Off Old Klang Road, was only used for a few months in 2003 before students were evacuated over safety concerns.
According to the president of Taman Desa Residents Association William Chan (fourth from left in photo), among the safety concerns over the abandoned school were cracks in the structure, with some even claiming that it was sinking.“The place had become dangerous and disrupting the lifestyle over here. Having children growing up among drug addicts is detrimental,” he added.
Even though there had been numerous complaints from the residents, action has yet to be taken.
“The reason that we called he press conference is to let the public know the ineffectiveness of the government and Education Ministry in particular,” he said.
He believes that the government should take counter-measures and make use of the building for other purposes.
“This space can be used to build either a district police headquarters or a Chinese primary school” he said, referring to Kok’s suggestion that it be converted into a Chinese primary school as there was a lack of such schools in her constituency.
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