Ling must tell why he rejected 3-Win formula
Ajinder KaurPublished: Jan 23, 2001 1:02 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik should explain why he opposed the "Three-Win" formula of "one school, two premises" to resolve the SRJK (C) Damansara school relocation controversy, an opposition leader said today.
MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik should explain why he opposed the "Three-Win" formula of "one school, two premises" to resolve the SRJK (C) Damansara school relocation controversy, an opposition leader said today.
DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang said in a press statement that Ling has become the chief protagonist opposed to the formula by becoming the first political leader to pronounce the old school premises as unsuitable for use ([#1]One school, two premises not viable: Ling[/#], Jan 22).
"The least that Ling should do before coming to such a drastic conclusion is to visit the school first," Lim said.
Chinese teachers association Jiao Zhong recently called on political parties both in the government and the opposition to work together to realise the "one-school, two-premises" solution to the school controversy.
The formula was derived at to meet the wishes of all the parents concerned, encompassing those who wish their children to remain in SRJK (C) Puay Chai (2) until construction of the new school at Tropicana in two years and those who wish their children to stay put at the original school premises in Section 17, Petaling Jaya.
This formula will also ensure that there will be an additional Chinese primary school in the area to meet increased demand from pupils of all races.
Highway
However, Ling, who is also Transport Minister, was quoted as saying yesterday that the formula was not viable and against the wishes of the people.
He also said the Sprint Highway is another factor adding to the unsuitability of the original premises as a conducive place for learning.
However, Lim said today that he believed the absolute majority of parents of the 1,400 pupils at the Damansara school supported the formula.
He added that those who wished their children to remain in the original school premises in Section 17 have declared that they fully respected the wishes of other parents who want their children to remain at Puay Chay (2) until a new school in Tropicana, a few kilometres away from the old school, is built.
"I do not believe that the overwhelming majority of the parents who want their children to remain at Puay Chay (2) until the new school in Tropicana is constructed object to the continued use of the original school premises as a community school for pupils in the immediate vicinity.
"I do not believe they will object if a portion of the pupils now at Puay Chay (2) voluntarily shift back to the old Damasara school.
"Why then should Ling object to a "3-Win" formula based on a "one-school, two premises" or two-school solution?" Lim stressed.
Lim added that it was also most surprising for Ling to use the Sprint Highway as a reason for the unsuitability of the present premises as the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report before the approval of the highway project stated that there would be no adverse environmental effects on the school.
"Did the Selangor Education Department and the Education Ministry lodge environmental objections to the construction of the Sprint Highway?
"And why was the EIA report (which stated that the Sprint Highway would have no adverse environmental impact on the Damansara school) accepted by the government?" he asked.
Libel and slander
Meanwhile, DAP publicity secretary Ronnie Liu, who is also adviser to the action committee to preserve SRJK (C) Damansara, today stood by his demand for an apology from The Star newspaper, MCA and its youth wing, for publishing statements and advertisements against him.
"Three days have passed and they do not seem to view my demand seriously although they should realise by now that their allegations against me were both factually and morally wrong," Liu said in a statement today.
He added that a news article entitled "Engineer queries Liu's motives" in The Star and advertisements inserted by MCA in local Chinese dailies on Jan 18, were "libellous and slanderous".
"It has painted me as one who does not practice what he preaches. The baseless statements have definitely created some hatred, misunderstanding and ill-feeling towards me," Liu said.
DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang said in a press statement that Ling has become the chief protagonist opposed to the formula by becoming the first political leader to pronounce the old school premises as unsuitable for use ([#1]One school, two premises not viable: Ling[/#], Jan 22).
"The least that Ling should do before coming to such a drastic conclusion is to visit the school first," Lim said.
Chinese teachers association Jiao Zhong recently called on political parties both in the government and the opposition to work together to realise the "one-school, two-premises" solution to the school controversy.
The formula was derived at to meet the wishes of all the parents concerned, encompassing those who wish their children to remain in SRJK (C) Puay Chai (2) until construction of the new school at Tropicana in two years and those who wish their children to stay put at the original school premises in Section 17, Petaling Jaya.
This formula will also ensure that there will be an additional Chinese primary school in the area to meet increased demand from pupils of all races.
Highway
However, Ling, who is also Transport Minister, was quoted as saying yesterday that the formula was not viable and against the wishes of the people.
He also said the Sprint Highway is another factor adding to the unsuitability of the original premises as a conducive place for learning.
However, Lim said today that he believed the absolute majority of parents of the 1,400 pupils at the Damansara school supported the formula.
He added that those who wished their children to remain in the original school premises in Section 17 have declared that they fully respected the wishes of other parents who want their children to remain at Puay Chay (2) until a new school in Tropicana, a few kilometres away from the old school, is built.
"I do not believe that the overwhelming majority of the parents who want their children to remain at Puay Chay (2) until the new school in Tropicana is constructed object to the continued use of the original school premises as a community school for pupils in the immediate vicinity.
"I do not believe they will object if a portion of the pupils now at Puay Chay (2) voluntarily shift back to the old Damasara school.
"Why then should Ling object to a "3-Win" formula based on a "one-school, two premises" or two-school solution?" Lim stressed.
Lim added that it was also most surprising for Ling to use the Sprint Highway as a reason for the unsuitability of the present premises as the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report before the approval of the highway project stated that there would be no adverse environmental effects on the school.
"Did the Selangor Education Department and the Education Ministry lodge environmental objections to the construction of the Sprint Highway?
"And why was the EIA report (which stated that the Sprint Highway would have no adverse environmental impact on the Damansara school) accepted by the government?" he asked.
Libel and slander
Meanwhile, DAP publicity secretary Ronnie Liu, who is also adviser to the action committee to preserve SRJK (C) Damansara, today stood by his demand for an apology from The Star newspaper, MCA and its youth wing, for publishing statements and advertisements against him.
"Three days have passed and they do not seem to view my demand seriously although they should realise by now that their allegations against me were both factually and morally wrong," Liu said in a statement today.
He added that a news article entitled "Engineer queries Liu's motives" in The Star and advertisements inserted by MCA in local Chinese dailies on Jan 18, were "libellous and slanderous".
"It has painted me as one who does not practice what he preaches. The baseless statements have definitely created some hatred, misunderstanding and ill-feeling towards me," Liu said.
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