Now that the dust of the MCA elections has settled, its leaders are being reminded to give top priority to settling outstanding matters in which the Chinese Malaysian community has a strong interest.

Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (SCAH) president Bong Hon Liong said MCA should take heed of the community's demands to divest its equity stake in Nanyang Press Holdings, which publishes Chinese-language dailies Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press.

"As a political party, MCA should respect the demands of the community to sell Nanyang Press Holdings as soon as possible," he said in a statement that reaffirmed SCAH's stand on the matter.

MCA's investment arm Huaren Management had acquired the media company in May 2001, a contentious decision that had split the party into two camps. The takeover was also criticised on the basis that political ownership could adversely affect editorial independence.

Bon further said the community has "a collective desire" to see new Chinese schools being built. The issue had been hotly debated during MCA's annual general assembly last week.

Reopen Damansara school

In this respect, SCAH reiterated its call for the SRJK(C) Damansara to be re-opened. It has been closed for 1,696 days since 2001, after the government found the location to be no longer conducive.

Although a new school was built at nearby Tropicana, it has been boycotted by a small group of parents who continue to send their children to makeshift premises at a temple next to the original premises.

"SRJK(C) Damansara is a Chinese school with complete facilities. There is no reason to close it. We call on MCA to demand that the government re-opens the school," Bon said.

Villagers, Chinese education groups and NGOs have strongly protested the relocation of the school, saying that a branch school should be established instead.

Currently, 51 students are studying in the makeshift classes - in air-conditioned containers - as a sign of protest, under 11 teachers and one headmaster.