'No building approvals if convent school land sold to developers'

The Penang government will not approve building plans to any developer on the land currently occupied by three convent schools, where rumours are rife that they may be closed down.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state government had not been informed about the matter, and was aware of it based on reports in the newspapers today.

“We have not been informed but we will not agree. We do not have a say but if the lands were sold to developers, we will not give any approvals to their building plans,” he said at a press conference today.

“How can they close down the oldest schools in Malaysia and Southeast Asia? How can the schools be closed when they are existing students?”

It is learnt that Convent Light Street, the oldest girls convent in Southeast Asia, and two other schools, including Convent Pulau Tikus, will be closed.

The Education Ministry does not own the land on which Convent Light Street, its primary school and Convent Pulau Tikus, are situated.

Malaysiakini is awaiting the response from the Provincial Secretariat of the Sisters of Infant Jesus, who had reportedly wanted to take back the land.

Rumours are rife that the schools would be turned into private international schools or that the land would be sold to developers.

In her Facebook posting today, Pulau Tikus assemblyperson Yap Soo Huey she was told by people in the know not to worry about the matter.

“I replied that you can't keep us in the dark and expect all the former students to not worry. Of course, we will worry,” said Yap, a former Convent Pulau Tikus student.

In an earlier post, she said there is not much reliable information on what the Sisters of Infant Jesus, owner of the affected schools, plans to do.

“I'll be writing a letter to them and hopefully be given the opportunity to express my sentiments as an alumnus which I'm sure is shared by many other alumni,” Yap added. - mkini