Don't Sacrifice A National Heritage for Money

First it was the swapping of the Stadium Merdeka and Stadium Negara with the National Sports Complex at Bukit Jalil. Even though most people disagree with the process, but the government headed by the last PM go ahead and synistically tell just to erect a monument in memory of Stadium Merdeka if it is deemed to have a historical value. So short sighted of him. God willing, the company EUM faced problem developing the area and it was handed over to Khazanah Nasional. Thank god. Stadium Merdeka and Stadium Negara has been saved.

Now comes the issue of another hostorical landmark for the nation. Just like both stadium which is on the golden triangle of Kuala Lumpur was seen as a money making project, University Malaya is the same. A company, Guocoland (M) Bhd wanted to develop the land, another goldmine for the company. And in exchange for the land the new campu for the university will be at Sepang. Guacoland, owned by millionaire Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan is going to develop the area with a RM10 billion project. Its only money that they want to see but not the historical value of a nation.

Acting Chirman of UM Board of Director, Datuk Dr Zulkefli A. Hassan has been quoted by mStar as saying "Universiti Malaya adalah universiti tertua di negara ini. LPU bertanggungjawab kepada ramai pemegang kepentingan, negara, masyarakat, alumni, kakitangan akademik dan pentadbiran dan mahasiswa," . The Star quoted him as saying, Universiti Malaya is a national heritage which must not be sacrificed for business purposes, the university's board of directors said.

Besides the Board of Directors , UM Academic Staff Association, Lecturers, Administrators and Sudents also disagree with the proposal.

University Malaya is a symbol of the Nations development in education and education is the basis of all development. Established on 8th October 1949, it was to help lay the foundations of a new nation by producing a generation of skilled and educated men. It was also to act as a national institution to serve the higher education needs of the Federation of Malaya and Singapore.

Let University Malaya stand where it is and to be remembered by future generations that this is one of the beginning of a nation. Being at the heart of a city is a symbol for everyone to look at and realise its education that build humans.

Development in Kuala Lumpur is overflowing and needs to be checked. Didn't we sit back and ponder that flash flood that hit Kuala Lumpur every now and then is a message from god that we are destroying nature?

.