Maszlee blames contractors for school opening delay

JOHOR BARU: Contractors are the main reason for the delays in the opening of the four Tamil schools in the state, says Dr Maszlee Malik.

The Education Minister said his ministry was aware of the problems and would resolve them.

Maszlee said these were the “kind of contractors” appointed by the previous government, not just for the construction of Tamil schools but other projects.

However, he give no time frame for the opening of the schools, saying that an announcement on the matter would be made soon.

“I urge parents to be patient,” he told reporters after a courtesy visit to Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Osman Sapian yesterday.

The Star yesterday reported that while thousands of schools nationwide welcomed students for the new school year, four new Tamil schools in the state were unable to open.

The affected schools, built at a cost of over RM20mil, are SJK(T) Ladang Tebrau, SJK(T) Bandar Sri Alam, SJK(T) Tun Dr Ismail and SJK(T) Ladang Niyor in Kluang.

SJK(T) Ladang Tebrau and SJK(T) Tun Dr Ismail have been lying idle for almost two years, with one not having a proper certificate of fitness while the other did not have a 150m access road and utilities.

The one in Kluang is ready but has problems with utilities while construction of the Sri Alam school has not been completed.

Parents whose children were supposed to enrol in SJK(T) Tun Dr Ismail were upset and disappointed that the problem happened in Maszlee’s constituency.

They held a peaceful protest outside the new school, urging the ministry and government to speed up efforts to open the school.

Johor MIC chief R. Vidyanathan, who visited the new school site in Simpang Renggam, said the government should not wash its hands and blame others on the issue.

“Instead of blaming it on technical issues, contractors and Barisan Nasional, they should find an immediate solution to the problem,” he said.