I’m sure some of you guys who have received an email about a school in a shoplot. That wasn’t something that happened in a faraway land, but right here in Negeri Sembilan. SJKT Ladang Sungai Salak is the infamous school I’m talking about. It was sharing building with another school for 5 years before moving into a shoplot in July 2007. Not sure if its listed in Malaysian Book of Records for the tremendous achievement.
Anyway, the school is in the limelight again because Senator P.Murugiah (he who is often seen as butting into other people’s territory) made a visit to the school recently. He also said that the school will get their own place next year and said that he will talk to Deputy Education Minister about this problem. Following this, Deputy Education Minister Puad Zarkashi said that the Education Ministry will help relocate SJK(T) Ladang Sungai Salak, citing “the 120 pupils should be studying in a more conducive environment and not be crammed in classrooms.”
“The school can be a fire trap. We will find ways to relocate it soon,” he said after visiting SJK(C) Ladang Hillside near here.
According to Puad, the Government has allocated RM975,000 for the construction of the school but it was delayed as the school had not been able to secure a plot for the purpose. Puad said the state Education Department would help school authorities to look for a piece of land in Lukut to build a new school.
Contrasting that is the statement in the earlier posting, where school said there no cooperation and help from the authorities to secure land or place. The school obviously couldn’t find land by itself. What is the purpose of having an Education Department, one may ask.
Anyway, the issue got interesting because MIC Negeri Sembilan claims Murugiah is trying to claim credit for the hard work put in by MIC for last two years in securing land for the school. The relocation to shoplot was secured through MIC 2 years ago. If not, maybe the schools be virtually closed down without any venue. Rajagopalu, MIC state chief, also said some different about the land:
He said the party had laid the groundwork to relocate the school to a nearby land acquired by the Education Ministry for RM1.5mil.
He added that MIC secretary-general Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam, who is also the Human Resources Minister, had already spoken to Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on the matter.
So, now we are not sure what is exactly going on with land status. Is there land available or not?
Whatever it is, hopefully the promise by the Deputy Education Minister materialises soon. No more excuse about land office not helpful or no land found etc.