KEDAH  is continuing its actions of marginalising Indians in the state, this time by not allocating a permanent land title for 85-year-old Tamil school, said P. Ramasamy.

The Penang deputy chief minister II said the PAS-led government could have easily allocated a permanent land for the SJK (T) Ladang Sg Ular instead of offering a three-year lease.

The lease means the land can be revoked at the end of the three-year tenure.

Ramasamy said the move on the school is the latest in a series of actions by Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor against the Indian community, starting with sanctioning temple demolitions, making disparaging remarks against Indian political leaders as well as not allocating a special holiday for Thaipusam this year.

“I am not sure why the Kedah government under PAS is so vindictive towards a weak and economically deprived community.

“What will happen to the school after the expiry of this period, nobody knows.

“Given the Kedah government’s discriminatory measures against the Indian community, there are fears that the school would be forced out of the land,” Ramasamy told The Malaysian Insight.

The school was founded in 1936 on the plantation which changed hands several times and was eventually bought by the Kedah Development Corporation (PKNK) in 1998.

Following several discussions highlighting the difficulty faced by the school to raise the funds, Sanusi allocated the land to the school for three years for free from February 1, 2021 to January 1, 2023.

In the renewal letter for the three-year temporary lease, it was stated that the school would have to apply for an extension six months before the expiry date.

“PKNK suggested to the school authorities to buy over the land from them. This was a preposterous suggestion as the school board was not in a financial position to raise the money,” said Ramasamy.

“The school board then approached the Kedah MB’s office to resolve the long-standing land matter. They wanted the state to provide the land to the school without paying for it, as they could not afford it.

“It was during the negotiations including the exchange of letters that Sanusi told the school to use the land for three years with conditions.”

The school has about 170 pupils mainly from the lower socio-economic background and despite their background, are thriving academically at the school, said Ramasamy.  

He added that the exco could have easily allocated the land to the school but decided against it.

“It is pointless to ask the Indian representatives in the MB’s office as they are under the paralysis of servitude.” – February 24, 2021.