Give the real reason for Assumption school closure, says Najib

 

Najib Razak said accusations had been made that the school’s impending closure could be linked to its Christian roots as a missionary school.

PETALING JAYA: The education ministry must clarify why the Assumption primary school in Butterworth is really being shut down, so that the issue doesn’t become fodder for opposition attacks, former prime minister Najib Razak said.

Najib said education minister Radzi Jidin must clarify whether a land dispute or low enrolment was the reason for the school’s closure, reportedly on Feb 28.

“Hopefully, the education ministry will not be silent, giving the politicians from Pakatan Harapan the chance to incite others,” Najib said, adding that accusations had already been made that the school’s impending closure could be linked to its Christian roots as a missionary school.

Najib also said those pointing to the school’s history and the need to preserve it may be doing so disingenuously.

“Although DAP and Pakatan Harapan say the school has existed for 89 years, the truth is that the building was only built in 2008 after the original building at another location was destroyed by fire in 1995.

“The original private owners of the school sold the land to a developer to build condominium blocks,” he said.

The school was relocated in 2008 to a new site, with a private developer, Sri Avenue Sdn Bhd, reportedly having an understanding that the ministry would purchase the land and the three-storey buildings. However this did not take place, and the company has reportedly asked for the return of the land.

The school currently has only 55 registered pupils, Malaysiakini reported.

The school was founded in 1933 by the La Salle Brothers, an order of the Catholic church, but the church relinquished all rights when the school was relocated in 2008. - FMT