Kampung Baru in need of a secondary school
KUALA LUMPUR - Kampung Baru is in need of a new secondary school to cater to the increasing number of residents due to the rapid development in the area.
The matter was brought up by one of its residents, Yuri Azhar Mazlan, 50 who said that the area had only one all girls secondary school which was SMK Puteri Wilayah.
He said there were several other secondary schools near the Kampung Baru area, such as St John's Institution, SMK Padang Tembak, SMK Sri Ampang and SMK Maxwell but the schools were quite far to travel to.
"There are several public transport facilities, but due to the distance and traffic congestion issues in the city centre students were forced to leave home much earlier for school," he said to Sinar.
He said the development of a school in the area could enable parents to easily monitor their children and avoid having their children be exposed to social issues such as truancy.
"If we look at the current development of housing areas, there would usually be a primary and secondary school among other facilities, but Kampung Baru has no such plans.
"There is only one all girls school and two primary schools here. I hope the government will consider developing an all boys secondary school or a mixed school to fulfill the residents current needs," he said.
Kampung Baru Malay agricultural settlement (Mas) administrative board honorary secretary Shamsuri Suradi said the construction of a secondary school in Kampung Baru is a necessity as the population will continue to increase after the completion of more housing projects.
He said the lack of land to build a school in this area is one constraint that requires attention.
"We lack the land, a school can't be developed on a whim but requires complete facilities for sports activities, a hall and such.
"I suggest SK Jalan Raja Muda to be modified into a high-density high-rise building where facilities are shared between primary and secondary school students," he said.
He said Kampung Baru should be made a pilot project for the development of a centralised education which was suitable for the location due to its limited space and land.
"Kampung Baru can become the focus because of its strategic location with complete transportation facilities close to KLCC and Chow Kit.
"Mas has previously used some land to develop a primary religious school for the needs of 600 students.
"For the secondary schools we suggest modifying available schools or have rebuilt to cater to the current needs as there is no longer an area that could fit in order to provide such facilities," he said.
He said the suggestion would be brought to the attention of the member of Parliament for the area before it is brought to the relevant ministry for consideration.
