PUCHONG – The 78-year-old SJK(T) Ladang Kinrara in Puchong should be considered a heritage site because of its significance to the Indian community, according to the Save Kinrara Tamil School (Sakta) Action Team.
Sakta chairman Dr S. Streram said the school, which was founded in 1946, was just a wooden structure but is now a decent building with about 700 students.
“This school was established before independence and now is a place conducive for learning. It can be said that the school is a heritage site,” he said during a gathering of five activists and 10 residents here opposing a development that could affect the school.
He added that the development involves demolishing the school cafeteria, kindergarten, and music hall to widen the access road – Jalan Mas – for a new apartment complex.
Streram also took Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to task as it authorised the project even though the school is in Selangor.
“We feel DBKL should be more sensible or compassionate as allowing the developer to touch parts of the school could lead to public outcry, and the students to suffer as well.”
Streram added that Federal Territories Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa is open to meeting and discussing issues relating to the development.
Meanwhile, resident Rajaretinam@Rajaji, 62, who has grandchildren attending the school, has urged authorities to seek an alternative solution.
“In 10 years’ time, with 1,600 units in the new apartment complex, the number of students will increase. The developer should have done its due diligence and found a different solution, instead of encroaching on school land.”
Sakta is not affiliated with the school board nor its parent-teacher association.
DBKL previously said the Land and Mines Department and the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MBSJ) were told to identify suitable areas to relocate parts of the school.
The local council said the matters were decided at a meeting on June 7, which was chaired by Dr Zaliha and attended by Batu MP P. Prabakaran, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, Kinrara assemblyman Ng Sze Han, school representatives and so on. – June 27, 2024