Convent Bukit Nanas alumni grateful for land lease extension

KUALA LUMPUR: After going through all the blood, sweat and tears in saving SMK Convent Bukit Nanas (CBN), the school community and its stakeholders can now breathe a sigh of relief following the government's announcement to extend the land lease for the school by 60 years on its expiry on Sept 6 this year.

Taking it as a 'gift' of appreciation from the government in preserving the 122-year-old school, CBN Alumni deputy president Junaidah Ishak expressed her gratitude for the overwhelming support from everyone who made it possible for the government to take the issue seriously.

"The long hours we (CBN Alumni) had put in for the last three days turned out to be very fruitful. We truly appreciate all the media support we received - TV, Radio and online news portal. Almost 70,000 signatures from #saveconventbukitnanas petition; it became like a nationwide campaign.

"We hope that the heritage listing will be smooth and that CBN would be able to maintain our ethos and continue to produce exceptional women for our nation building in many more years to come," she told Bernama today.

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO), in a statement today, said the decision to extend the lease was made after considering the contributions made by SMK Convent Bukit Nanas to the country's education since 1899.

"This approval is given specifically for the purpose of education only. It is hoped that with this decision, SMK Convent Bukit Nanas will continue to achieve success as a Cluster School of Excellence in producing high-quality national human capital," the statement said.

It said Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali and Federal Territories Land and Mines director Datuk Muhammad Yasir Yahya had met with Lady Superior of the Society of Saint Maur Sr Theresa Chua Siu Yan, who was representing the SMK Convent Bukit Nanas Board of Governors, and both sides agreed with the proposed resolution which was discussed.

News on the school has made headlines since Monday after the High Court here on April 19 granted leave to Lady Superior of the Society of Saint Maur, which runs the school, for a judicial review application to challenge the non-renewal of its land lease.

Justice Datuk Noorin Badaruddin allowed leave for the full merits of the judicial review to be heard and set May 4 for the court to hear the stay application inter partes.

-- BERNAMA