It's that time of the year again to help out the original SRJK(C) Damansara. The annual fund raising dinner organised by Save Our School committee of Kampung Damansara Baru (SOS Damansara) will be held on Saturday.

Themed "Increase Chinese primary schools, Re-open SRJK(C) Damansara', the 7th anniversary dinner will be held at the open air car park in Petaling Jaya Section 17 on June 23. The event, beginning at 7pm, hopes to raise RM250,000. Tickets are sold at RM50 each with 200 tables on offer.

SOS Damansara committee chairperson Yong Yoke Sung (left) explained that the annual fund-raising dinner was necessary to raise funds to keep the school afloat. The money raised will be used for teachers' salaries and utility bills.

Those familiar with the story of the SRJK(C) Damanasara in Petaling Jaya will know it was closed by the government in 2001, sparking a spirited fight-back by a diehard few who refused to relocate their children to new premises 4km away.

Yong was optimistic that the school would be re-opened again in the future, but until that happens, it is dependent on the support of the PJ community to keep going.

"It's this continuos moral and financial support from the Chinese community that keeps us going," he said, appealing to the public again to be generous and give their full support to Saturday's dinner.

After the 2001 closure of the original premises, parents who refused to move their children to the new school in Tropicana continued to send their children to a nearby Chinese temple to study. Several air-conditioned containers were set up in the temple and volunteers came in to teach the children.

At the same time, the SOS committee organised several campaigns to request the Education Ministry to re-open the school which has been vacant for the past six years. Yong said such campaigns will persist until the government re-opens the school.

Thumbs-up from parents

The temporary school has also won the praise of parents.

Parent and SOS committee member Lam Yoke Saw (right) told malaysiakini that the makeshift school promotes better learning environment. This was why she sent three of her children, aged between 8 to 12, to study there three years ago.

She said that classes in the Chinese primary school her children attended previously were big with at least 45 students in each class. Such a big class, she said, is not conducive for young children.

"My children are not the top students and they are not the naughtiest. Thus, they are likely to be neglected in a big class. Also, teachers will not have the time nor energy to discuss with parents the progress of their children in school," she added.

Lam said she preferred smaller classes offered by SRJK(C) Damansara as teachers there were able to pay more attention to her children.

She also credited the teachers there for being more willing to spend time to share with her about her children's performance in school after class.

The mother of four said her youngest child is now attending pre-school class at the primary school and would register for primary one next year.

Lam joined the SOS Damansara committee last year and is currently vice-president of the committee's social service group.

"Even after my children have graduated from the school, I will continue to fight for its re-opening," she added.

Donations in cheque can be addressed to UCSCAM or United Chinese School Committees' Association of Malaysia with 'SOS Damansara Committee' written at the back.

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