A LANDSLIP which occurred earlier this year near the 124-year-old Convent Bukit Nanas (CBN) school and Kuala Lumpur Forest Eco Park (previously known as Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve) is causing the school authorities much concern.
The collapsed slope on the eco park side has encroached into the land at the back of the school close to the Brede Block.
It has not been fixed despite Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), the Public Works Department (JKR) and the Forestry Department visiting the site several months ago to gauge the damage.
“We are worried that the incessant rain and upcoming monsoon season may trigger a bigger landslip or even a landslide,” said the school board of governors chairman Yip Jian Lee.
“The landslip destroyed parts of the wall bordering the school and in some parts, cracks have appeared, posing a danger. This is a matter of public safety,” she said.
She hoped the Forestry Department would bear the responsibility of fixing the damaged slope since it occurred on the park’s land.
“When the authorities came to visit early in the year, they told us that at least RM1mil was needed to repair the damaged slope,” she said.
This was not the first time the school has been hit by a landslip. In 2020, a landslip occurred after a downpour damaged a retaining wall.
However, the landslip is not the only problem the school authorities are worried about.
“The school was built in 1899, hence it is plagued by multiple problems such as old wiring, leaky roofs, burst pipes and cracks on the building,” said Yip.
With limited government funding, which usually goes towards essential repairs, she said the school board would be holding a fundraising dinner on Oct 15 at the HGH Convention Centre in Jalan Peach Avenue, Sentul in Kuala Lumpur. “We are inviting friends, alumni and supporters to attend the dinner to help raise funds via table sales (RM3,000 for 10 pax), individual seats (RM300) and public donations,” she added.
There will also be an auction of paintings from Malaysian artists.
“We need to raise at least RM500,000 for the maintenance of CBN 1 and 2 and SMK CBN.
“The annual allocation from the government is inadequate to cover all necessary repairs for all three schools, which have over 2,000 students,” said Yip.
For details, call 012-283 9325 (Jian), 019-210 7872 (Gerard) and 012-388 2726 (Angela).
See Original: M, B. (2022, September 26). Concern over landslip-hit school wall. The Star.
