Convent Bukit Nanas land lease issue - What you need to know

KUALA LUMPUR: The land lease for Convent Bukit Nanas at Jalan Bukit Nanas, which is expiring in September 2021, has not been renewed by the Land and Mines department.

Here's what you need to know.

WHAT’S GOING ON?

• On Oct 4, 2017, Convent Bukit Nanas, fondly known as CBN, wrote to the Lands and Mines office seeking an extension of the land lease.

• The Lady Superior of the Society of Saint Maur, which is the corporate entity operating CBN, made an oral application to substitute the Federal Territories Land and Mines Office (PPTGWP) to the Land executive committee for the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur.

• The Lady Superior only received a reply in January this year, following a letter from the PTG dated Dec 18, 2020 informing that, the school has not been granted its land lease extension by the Lands and Mines Department, which is due to expire on Sept 6, 2021.

• Today, the PPTGWP's director Datuk Muhammad Yasir assured that CBN will not be demolished once its lease expires and the land it sits on will revert to the government so it can be gazetted as a fully-aided government school.

ONGOING PROCEEDING

April 7, 2021

• The High Court hear the full merits of the judicial review application filed by law firm Kevin & Co on behalf of the Lady Superior.

• According to the document, Kevin & Co named the PTG director as the sole respondent.

• The judicial review application is seeking, among others, to quash the decision by the Lands and Mines office to refuse the land lease extension and to compel the PTG director to revoke the land lease non-renewal letter dated Dec 18, 2020.

April 19, 2021

• CBN was granted leave by the Kuala Lumpur High Court to mount a challenge against the non-renewal of its land lease.

• High court judge Datuk Noorin Badarin set May 4 to hear the school’s application for a stay pending the disposal of the judicial review.

• The present judicial review applies to SMKCBN (secondary school) and not the two primary schools where it sought several reliefs.

WHY DOES IT MATTER? - BACKGROUND

• CBN was established in 1899, making it one of the oldest schools in the country. It comprises of two primary schools and SMKCBN, which was established by the Christian missionaries.

• This school, which is within the heritage zone, was built on the land that was bought by the sisters with contributions from the public.

• CBN was one of the first schools to be distinguished as a Cluster School of Excellence by the Education Ministry.

• Academically, CBN has been consistent among the top-performing schools for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination. The school was also featured in commemorative stamps, which is exemplary of CBN`s students' achievements.

• Many are not in favour of the idea of demolishing the historical institution to make way for major developmental projects that may erase this historical building’s heritage, which is located on prime land.

• An online signature campaign is being organised to petition for the renewal of the lease to preserve the heritage of CBN from moving out.

A HERITAGE TO BEHOLD - A LEGACY OF 122 YEARS

CBN qualifies to be listed as a national heritage site under the National Heritage Act 2005.

• This school is under the KL City Plan 2020 zone which is within the development plan, under the Federal Territory Planning Act 1982 as a public facility and as a heritage zone.

• Therefore, this school qualifies to be listed as a national heritage site under the National Heritage Act 2005 and not just as a heritage site in the KL City Plan 2020.

• During the Japanese occupation, CBN acted as a temporary shelter for hundreds of civilian refugees, thanks to the sisters who looked after them throughout the occupation.

• CBN was also home to orphans, many abandoned babies and special needs children who were taught and raised into self-sufficient adults.

• The 122 years old school is one of the last few remaining all-girls schools and has provided education for tens of thousands of Malaysian women, producing many eminent personalities including the current serving governor of Bank Negara, the Queen of Selangor, Adibah Noor (M’sian actress, singer, emcee), Dr Farrah Hani (former Malaysian gymnast) to name a few.