SK St Paul is a partially aided mission school and needs to raise funds for expenses, including maintenance work.
Income avenue closed off after residents’ complaints, SK St Paul Seremban struggles to meet costs of general upkeep
A SEREMBAN primary school’s decision to lease its hall to a private company has landed it in hot water with the city council.
SK St Paul’s hall in Taman Bukit Labu was once in a dilapidated condition as the mission school did not have funds to repair and maintain the facility.
The school’s board of governors had then decided to lease the hall to the company, which restored it and turned it into an event space.
Consequently, SK St Paul received a notice from Seremban City Council (MBS) ordering the school to stop allowing the hall to be used for events.
The notice issued on Nov 14, which gave the school three days to comply, was a result of complaints from surrounding residents about noise pollution and haphazard parking.
MBS’ notice also barred the school from holding any functions there without obtaining approval from the city council first.
The school was told that if it failed to comply, action could be taken under Section 82(5) of the Local Government Act 1976 which carries a fine of not more than RM1,000 or a jail term of up to six months or both, upon conviction.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a board member said the company leasing the hall had spent about RM300,000 to carry out roof and other repairs.
He said the hall could not be used for several years due to leakage and other problems, and the company had also borne the cost of refurbishing the space.
“There are now new tables and chairs, proper soundproofing and an air-conditioning system so that the hall can be rented out to generate income,” he said, adding that a portion of the rental income was given to the school.
The company, owned by a former SK St Paul pupil, allowed the school to use the hall for free including to host events on behalf of the state Education Department or other organisations.
The operator, said the board member, had also agreed to pay for the hall’s maintenance and utility bills.
The board member said it was not unusual for schools, especially mission and vernacular ones, to rent out their halls to generate additional income as they were not fully aided.
The decision to lease out the school hall was made in June last year in the presence of representatives from the Negri Sembilan Education Department and SK St Paul Parent-Teacher Association.
The school hall before the renovations. The water mark left by roof leaks can be seen in the foreground.
However, residents nearby had complained of “deafening noise”, haphazard parking and other problems after the school started renting out the hall, including for weddings.
The residents also claimed that some guests attending those functions consumed alcohol and had behaved in an unruly manner.
In a letter dated Nov 11 to the school headmaster, the residents claimed that an event held the day before had loud music playing from 10am till 2pm.
“Can you imagine what we senior citizens have to bear with on a Sunday morning?
“The residents have long enjoyed a very peaceful and harmonious environment but sadly, we cannot enjoy any peace and quiet due to the hall being used for functions,” they said in the letter to the school.
In response, the board member said the company had been told that alcohol was not allowed to be served within the school premises.
“We had an understanding with the operator that Rela personnel would have to be on duty whenever there are events.
“Apart from monitoring traffic, they had to ensure that no one consumed alcohol inside the school compound,” he said.
Following the residents’ complaints and MBS’ directive, the company’s owner had decided to discontinue the lease.
“He is devastated as being a former student, his intention was to help the school.
“Despite having invested so much time and money, he has decided to pack up,” said the board member, adding the school needs to source for funds regularly.
The board member said that due to the lack of funds, the school also had to rent out its canteen and bookshop.
He said that even before this issue of the hall being rented to outsiders, the school had received complaints from some residents that its assemblies were too loud.
“We had Education Department officers turning up at our school to check on this.
“When we explained the situation, they accepted that this was unavoidable with the school being located in the middle of a residential area.”
He claimed that before the hall had been repaired and refurbished, there were individuals loitering outside who would drink alcohol late into the night.
Another board member, who also did not wish to be named, said the school had previously only allowed old boys or other individuals to rent the hall – when it was still in good condition – for badminton games as a way to generate some revenue.
“Only the teachers’ salaries are paid by the government,” he pointed out.
The board member said the school also received complaints whenever it held events like award ceremonies to recognise pupils’ academic performance and involvement in co-curricular activities.
He added that the school had carried out many fundraising activities for urgent needs previously, including to purchase furniture and whiteboards, repair toilets and build a new school block.
Negri Sembilan local government development, housing and transportation committee chairman J. Arul Kumar, when contacted by StarMetro, said MBS had to take action due to residents’ complaints.
“MBS will still consider on a case-by-case basis, but I am told the school has decided against leasing the hall out from now on,” he said.
