KUALA LUMPUR – Seputeh MP Teresa Kok has hit back at Save Kinrara Tamil School (Sakta) Action Team chairman Dr S. Streram for accusing her and Kinrara assemblyman Ng Sze Han of not opposing the development of a new apartment complex next to the school in Puchong.
Speaking to Scoop, Kok said that she was not aware of the project until she met Federal Territories Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa, Batu MP P. Prabakaran, Ng, and the school representatives.
“I didn’t even know about the project until I was called for the meeting earlier this month regarding the road expansion. It was during the meeting that we all saw the plan, and it came to my attention that certain parts of the school were encroaching into Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) reserve land.
“It is very irresponsible of him (Streram) to make such remarks now, as the construction of the apartment complex is almost complete. Now he blames us for not opposing it, which is a very nonsensical remark,” she said.
She said the cause of the issue is the historical boundary division between Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, which did not indicate that some parts of the school had encroached into DBKL’s jurisdiction.
“The school is located on the border of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, and due to it being built before DBKL was formed, the demarcation does not show that the school encroaches into DBKL’s jurisdiction.
“When Kuala Lumpur became a federal territory in 1974, there was a realignment, only then did the school encroach into DBKL land. How it happened is not under my responsibility,” Kok said.
She also mentioned that in the recent meeting she attended with Ng, they did discuss efforts to address the issue, including the potential relocation of the school’s canteen, kindergarten, and music room to another site, but there are challenges in doing so.
When Scoop contacted Ng, he said that Streram’s accusation of him not opposing the development was “baseless”, referring to a statement issued on March 25.
“The office of the Kinrara state assemblyman never agreed with the decision to allow the demands of the housing developer of Wilayah Residency to take over three buildings of SJK (T) Ladang Kinrara for development purposes effective April 1, 2024,” he said in the statement.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the school board, Gobi Gurusamy, confirms that certain parts of the school are located on DBKL’s reserve land but added that a solution is needed.
“What Teresa Kok said is true; what I can say is that we are sitting on somebody’s land and they have more power than us. We must settle the issue amicably; if that is not possible, we will find other alternatives,” he said when contacted.
At the same time, Gobi said that a town hall meeting will be held tomorrow at the school for more clarity on the issue, adding that school representatives, residents, and other non-governmental organisations will be attending.
However, Streram said that the school buildings are not situated on DBKL reserve land and firmly insisted on the matter based on the April 2008 site plan approved by Selangor’s then survey and mapping director, John Elvis Koh.
“I will be attending the town hall meeting on Sunday,” said Streram.
Sakta is not affiliated with the school board or its parent-teacher association. – June 29, 2024