KUALA LUMPUR: An application to gazette SMK Convent Bukit Nanas (CBN) as a national heritage site had been initiated by the National Heritage Department (JWN) in 2010 but was struck out a year later due to objections raised by the school's stakeholders.
In shedding more light on recent issues involving the school, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the process had been initiated before but things were not resolved.
"In February 2010, JWN filed its third application to the then State Authority (PBN), which was the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry, in pursuant of Section 30 of the National Heritage Act to gazette CBN's buildings as heritage sites.
"Just five months after JWN's application was filed in, the Heritage Commissioner received notice of objection through law firms, filed by the school's stakeholders" during the period of notice of intent. This was released in local newspapers in July 2010.
"However, JWN's application was approved in September 2010 and works to set up the school as heritage site began taking place then," she said in a statement today.
However, Nancy said the commissioners held a hearing session in accordance to Section 29 of the same Act on April 8, 2011, for the Heritage Commissioner to get the explanation on the objections by stakeholders.
"After refining and considering the objections raised by stakeholders, the commissioner decided not to proceed with the school's gazettement as heritage site on July 21, 2011," Nancy said.
A recent controversy surrounding the school involved its land's lease, which was suppose to expire on Sept 6 this year.
Since the issue came to light, petitions were initiated by the school's alumni, ex-students and conservationists who said the school must be preserved.
On April 7, the Lady Superior of the Society of Saint Maur, which runs the school was granted an application for leave for judicial review to challenge the government's decision not to extend the school's land lease under its name.
The school had reportedly written to the Land Office on Oct 4, 2017, to seek an extension of the land lease but on Dec 18 last year, they received a reply that it would not be renewed.
Since the issue came to light, petitions have been introduced on social media calling for CBN to be preserved as an operating school on the site as well as a national heritage site.
However, yesterday, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) announced extending the lease for CBN which was due to expire in September, by another 60 years.
The approval was only given for the purpose of education, after taking into account of the school's numerous contributions towards education in the country over the years.
Nancy said preserving Malaysia's rich heritage was vital.
"Our heritage is a testament to the country's civilisation and it attracts tourists. It contributes to the economic growth of the people, state and country.
"CBN, which is an all-girls school, produced many prominent female figures in the country.
"Prominent figures who have come from the school include Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor Tengku Norashikin, Bank Negara governor Datuk Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus, former International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz and many more.
"We believe that by setting the school as a heritage site under the National Heritage Act (Act 645), it will not affect its ownership, custody and site administration.
"Gazettement will not take any ownership of the land, in fact it will remain under the official owner as noted in the Search Official."
Nancy said at the moment, the school's buildings has not been gazetted as heritage sites under the National Heritage Act by JWN.
"With present justifications and significant legacies left by CBN, the ministry welcomes the school trustees to consider nominating the CBN building to be gazetted as heritage site under the Act to conserve, preserve and protect its heritage.
"We also call upon all parties, including the local authorities, owners, developers, non-governmental organisations as well as related heritage industry players to work together in conserving, preserving and protecting our national heritage."
She said based on history records, the school was made a temporary shelter and saved hundreds of civilians during the Japanese occupation.
With its English-Gothic architecture, the building was built under the supervision of the colonial Malayan governments' architects, who were known as Huxley and Kesteven.
The school was inaugurated in 1911 by E.L. Brockman, the secretary-general of the Federation of Malaya.