YSS98-A Milestone To Tamil Schools

New Land For Torkington Tamil School, Sabak Bernam

By Mr SP Karuppiah

YSS Community Development Officer

On 23rd May 2003, YB. Dato’ K. Sivalingam, State Exco and Ijok Assemblyman visited Torkington Tamil School of Ldg Sabak Bernam and had a meeting with the parents and the PIBG officials. The meeting was also attended by Mrs. Russiah Rahmat, Land Executive Officer of Kumpulan Guthrie Bhd, Mr. Murugan, Selangor State Tamil School coordinator, Mr. Chandra Pragasam, Sabak Bernam MIC Division Chairman, Mr. S.P.Karuppiah YSS Officer, Education Ministry District officers and MIC chairmen.

The school is located on land belonging to the Guthree Land in the Sabak Bernam Town. There are 154 students currently studying in the school. The school was just beside the estate workers’ houses of the Guthrie Land, which is not convenient for those people staying in Sabak Bernam Town. YB. Dato’ Sivalingam mentioned that the new land for the new school building is close to the Sabak Bernam town. The Guthree Bhd management itself has given 3.6 acres of land for the construction of the building.

YB. Dato' K. Sivalingam thanked the Guthrie Management and the officer concerned for their contribution towards getting a new piece of land for the Tamil school. YB also said that he will also propose to the Chief Minister of Selangor and the Education Exco of Selangor State to allocate funds for building a new Tamil School on the 3.6 acres of land. The PIBG committee also will raise funds for the building. A report will be submitted to Y.B. Dato’ Seri. S. Samy Vellu, Works Minister, for his contribution and to ensure the approval of the school plan.

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Y.B also mentioned that the Tamil School will be one of the best schools with new building ones. The school will be a significant part of Sabak Bernam and more students from the estates and the town can come and study. Currently there are only 2 Tamil Schools in Sabak Bernam and the parents find it difficult to send their children to the interior part of the estates.

Mr. Chandra Pragasam , MIC Division Chairman who is also the PIBG chairman thanked YB. Dato Sivalingam for all his effort to get such a strategic land for the Tamil School in Sabak Bernam. He also mentioned that all the parents and teachers of the school thanks him and the Guthree Management for their sincere help for the future of Indians in Sabak Bernam. Mr. Pragasam also mentioned that he and his committee would work harder and commit more resources for the new school building. In his speech he thanked YB. Dato’ Seri S. Samy Vellu, for his leadership and concern about the people of Sabak Bernam and their welfare. He also extended his gratitude to Dr. Denison Jayasooria, the Executive Director of YSS.

YB. Dato’ Siva and all other guests visited the new land which is allocated for the Tamil School. The Guthrie Management Land executive and the officers showed and explained to YB. Dato’ about the land. Mrs. Russiah Rahmat also showed the land opposite the school land which is allocated for the Sabak Bernam General Hospital. It was a historical visit and the start of a new chapter in the history of Sabak Bernam for the local Indian Community and Tamil Schools in Sabak Bernam.

(Submitted on 5th June 2003)