Hunger strikers claim guards tried to chase them off
Susan LoonePublished: Feb 8, 2001 8:11 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
Two parents who are staging a hunger strike over the relocation of the SRJK (C) Damansara outside the Transport Minister's office today claim security guards of the building management tried to chase them away.
The two, who declined to be named, have stationed themselves at the office of Dr Ling Liong Sik, who is also MCA president, in Jalan Dungun, Kuala Lumpur, since 8am today. They refused to budge although told to leave by security guards.
DAP national publicity secretary, Ronnie Liu said that at about 8.30am, Ling and his party deputy Lim Ah Lek met with the parents and shook hands with them.
"But they did not say anything ... so the parents continued to protest and will be there until 5pm this evening," Liu, acting as their spokesperson, told malaysiakini.
However, Ling's press secretary Ong Boon Chee when contacted said that he was not aware of the strike. Nevertheless, he denied that security guards tried to chase the strikers away.
The "tug-of-war" between the Education Ministry and parents over the temporary relocation of students from the Damansara school to SRJK Puay Chai (2) in Bandar Utama has been going on for more than a month.
The students were directed to move to the new school early this year when the new school term started. The ministry then sealed the old school, citing an unfavorable environment for learning due to over congestion and pollution from the Sprint highway nearby.
As of today, the majority of 1,400 students have moved but some 60 pupils have remained behind and are adamant to stay on where the school has stood for 70 years. They are currently being taught in makeshift classrooms at the neighbouring temple.
Deputy education Minister Hon Choon Kim has urged the protesting parents to review their decision and transfer their children to the Puay Chai school, pending the completion of the new building promised to them in Tropicana.
Recently, the Education Ministry announced that the new building in Tropicana will be constructed within eight months with a Finance Ministry allocation of about RM9 million.
Indefinite strike
Liu, who is also adviser to the Action Committee to Preserve Old School, said that parents will continue the hunger strike at several venues on a rotation basis.
The strike has been going on for four days now and on each occasion, two or three parents are involved.
"Parents of the affected students will take turns to abstain from eating or drinking for a whole day or two," Liu said.
"The protest will go on for an indefinite period," he added.
On Monday, four parents who staged a sit-in over the same cause at the Education Ministry premises in Jalan Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, were arrested for illegal assembly.
The four were taken to the Brickfields police station and later released when several DAP MPs intervened.
Yesterday, two parents staged a hunger strike outside the MCA headquarters in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.
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The two, who declined to be named, have stationed themselves at the office of Dr Ling Liong Sik, who is also MCA president, in Jalan Dungun, Kuala Lumpur, since 8am today. They refused to budge although told to leave by security guards.
DAP national publicity secretary, Ronnie Liu said that at about 8.30am, Ling and his party deputy Lim Ah Lek met with the parents and shook hands with them.
"But they did not say anything ... so the parents continued to protest and will be there until 5pm this evening," Liu, acting as their spokesperson, told malaysiakini.
However, Ling's press secretary Ong Boon Chee when contacted said that he was not aware of the strike. Nevertheless, he denied that security guards tried to chase the strikers away.
The "tug-of-war" between the Education Ministry and parents over the temporary relocation of students from the Damansara school to SRJK Puay Chai (2) in Bandar Utama has been going on for more than a month.
The students were directed to move to the new school early this year when the new school term started. The ministry then sealed the old school, citing an unfavorable environment for learning due to over congestion and pollution from the Sprint highway nearby.
As of today, the majority of 1,400 students have moved but some 60 pupils have remained behind and are adamant to stay on where the school has stood for 70 years. They are currently being taught in makeshift classrooms at the neighbouring temple.
Deputy education Minister Hon Choon Kim has urged the protesting parents to review their decision and transfer their children to the Puay Chai school, pending the completion of the new building promised to them in Tropicana.
Recently, the Education Ministry announced that the new building in Tropicana will be constructed within eight months with a Finance Ministry allocation of about RM9 million.
Indefinite strike
Liu, who is also adviser to the Action Committee to Preserve Old School, said that parents will continue the hunger strike at several venues on a rotation basis.
The strike has been going on for four days now and on each occasion, two or three parents are involved.
"Parents of the affected students will take turns to abstain from eating or drinking for a whole day or two," Liu said.
"The protest will go on for an indefinite period," he added.
On Monday, four parents who staged a sit-in over the same cause at the Education Ministry premises in Jalan Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, were arrested for illegal assembly.
The four were taken to the Brickfields police station and later released when several DAP MPs intervened.
Yesterday, two parents staged a hunger strike outside the MCA headquarters in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.
Related stories:
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