KUALA LUMPUR – Former minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz has welcomed the government’s move to extend her alma mater Convent Bukit Nanas’ (CBN) land lease.
In a brief statement, she said she is glad that Putrajaya has “come to its senses”.
“After all, it is the same government that rejected the appeal.”
She suggested that for the sake of future generations of students, the government should give the school freehold status on the parcels of land it sits on, as well as confer on the school heritage status, befitting its role as a pioneer in Malaysian education.
CBN should be a fully aided school, she said, while calling for an end to the discriminatory treatment of education institutions.
We need to ensure that every school has the capacity to raise the standard of education for the sake of our children and youth, for now and in the future, and for the good of our nation.”
Rafidah’s comments come after the government granted a land lease extension to SMK CBN for another 60 years. The lease had been due to expire on September 6.
The Prime Minister’s Office, in a statement this evening, said Putrajaya took into consideration the application by the school’s governing body to have the lease extended.
“After taking into account the contributions of SMK Convent Bukit Nanas to national education since 1899, the government has agreed to extend the lease period to 60 years for SMK Convent Bukit Nanas, located in Section 49, Jalan Bukit Nanas, Kuala Lumpur.
“This permission is granted specifically for education purposes.”
The chief secretary to the government and the Federal Territories land and mines director met Lady Superior of the Society of Saint Maur Theresa Chua Siu Yan, representing the school board, over the lease issue.
“Hopefully, with this, SMK Convent Bukit Nanas will continue to achieve success as a cluster school of excellence, producing high-quality national human capital,” said PMO.
Rafidah had earlier slammed Putrajaya, saying it should ensure heritage institutions like CBN remain where they are.
“More so, when they are institutions of learning, the pioneers in the nation’s development in the education sphere. In fact, instead of just giving the leasehold status of the land, such institutions should be given permanent titles to their sites. As such, it can be the motivation for long-term planning.
“As far as I am concerned, CBN gave me a good grounding of good values and principles, even as far back as primary school. And, the inculcation of discipline and a sense of responsibility. I would like to appeal to the authorities to consider giving CBN permanency of tenure over the site it is on.”
The all-girls school was established in 1899. In 1961, the Ruler in Council granted CBN a state lease.
In 2017, the school applied to renew the lease, but received a letter dated December 18, 2020 only in January this year. – The Vibes, April 22, 2021
