MORE than 20,000 people have signed on the online petition to save the SMK Convent Bukit Nanas (CBN) in Kuala Lumpur following news that the school’s land lease which is expiring in September 2021 has not been renewed by the Lands & Mines department .
The school was granted a judicial review on this matter on Monday.
High court judge Datuk Noorin Badarin had set May 4 to hear the school’s application for a stay pending the disposal of the judicial review.
“With its illustrious history, the 122 years old institution’s contribution to the nation cannot be undervalued nor disregarded,” the petition stated.
CBN has produced a long list of distinguished women serving the nation in many different capacities, including former International Trade and Industry minister, Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz.
Rafidah is one of the vocal voices demanding for the school to not be relocated.
“As far as I am concerned, CBN gave me a good grounding of good values and principles, even as far back in the primary school. And, the inculcation of discipline and a sense of responsibility. I would like to appeal to the authorities to consider giving Convent Bukit Nanas permanency of tenure over the site it is on,” she reportedly said.
Award-winning actress, Vanidah Imran also questioned why the school was not granted the land-lease renewal.
“Which greedy parties are eyeing the land where Convent Bukit Nanas stands? This school has a letter of support from the Ministry of Education. I don’t understand why can’t they renew its lease,” she wrote on her Instagram recently.
In 2017, The Malaysian Reserve reported that almost 99% of parents rejected the idea to relocate CBN in Kuala Lumpur (KL), while the title holder of the land where the school sits has no intention to sell the plot.
The Ministry of Education (MoE) conducted a survey to relocate the school from its Bukit Nanas site due to massive congestion and rapid developments in the area.
CBN’s head of Parent and Teacher Association (PTA) Rozali Ahmad said following the survey, the PTA has opposed the idea of relocating the school.
He said the survey conducted on that area did not just involve CBN, but also other schools within the area like Saint John’s Institution primary and secondary.
“MoE feels that it is not safe for students and parents to be in a high-density area and be exposed to road accidents,” Rozali said.
See Original: TMR. (2021, April 21). More than 20,000 have signed petition to save Convent Bukit Nanas. TheMalaysianReserve.Com.
