Twin accolades for Damansar Chinese primary school struggle well-deserved and time has come for government to grant a third accolade by giving "green light" for reviving the original school


Media Statement
by Lim Kit Siang

(Petaling Jaya, Friday): The two accolades for the Damansara Chinese primary school struggle - in winning the Lim Lian Geok Prize and the Suaram Human Rights Prize - are well-deserved tribute to the parents, teachers and pupils who stood firm and tall for a just cause - the restoration of the original Damansara Chinese primary school to meet the legitimate mother-tongue educational needs and aspirations of the local community.

The two accolades won by the defenders of the Damansara Chinese primary school should not regarded as a victory against the government, but as a reminder to the government to yield to public opinion and allow the restoration of the original Chinese primary school

The time has therefore come for the government to stop being stubborn and to give the "green light" for restoring the old school, which should present no problems whatsoever, as a very good school building is just waiting to be used.

It would be ideal if the unnecessary Damansara Chinese primary school saga could end with a third accolade - the Cabinet and Education Ministry giving approval for the restoration of the original Damansara Chinese primary school.

Certain MCA and Gerakan leaders had privately sent out signals that the Cabinet would allow the re-opening of the original Damansara Chinese primary school.at its old site - but so far, they have remained just "hot air".

There should be no further delay on this matter. In fact, Parliament should in the last two days of its meeting next week, do a national service and adopt a parliamentary motion to  express support for the restoration and re-opening of the original Damansara Chinese primary school - to acknowledge that what the parents, teachers and pupils stood for for the defence of the original Damansara Chinese primary school was a legitimate popular stand deserving government support.

(7/12/2001)



*Lim Kit Siang - DAP National Chairman