PUSPANITA KPM (MOE) finally decided to close down the nursery they first opened in 1996. It was a hard work on their part to establish a place for children. After ten years and especially after all the departments moved to Putrajaya, the nursery known as TASKA KPM was left on its own in Education Technology Division (ETD) which housed the nursery (the only department that didn't move). Still under PUSPANITA's management, the nursery was under the supervision of Kak Pah who was there since its opening.There were glorious years where VIPs would visit the place and spent some time with the children. The children were also involved in many ETD's activities. They became part of ETD's 'people'. Unfortunately, Kak Pah couldn't hold on very long, she finally succumbed to her diabetic and no longer able to care for the children but insisted on staying on. It was unfair for other caretakers because she still got the pay as a supervisor which was far more than the caretakers themselves since she only able to watch the kids from far. She has got to go. So parents voiced out dissatisfaction to PUSPANITA requesting them to look into the matter and requested that service be improved. They don't want to pay for a sick person to look after their children.
When it was first opened, I sent my twins there....on and off...I would sent my younger kids especially at times when I didn't have maid. Now I have a daughter there and I really need the place to stay open. It is so convenient, so close by and the fee is very reasonable. So I'm fighting for the place to remain open...
Suddenly, there came an instruction to close down the place by 1st July 2007. The issue concerning the nursery was first brought up by ETD's direction himself that since the place only accommodate 4 kids (as he understood) and that he needed more space for his staff, the nursery should go. Chief Secretary of MOE agreed and advice that the kids be transfered to INTAN's nursery which is about 1 km away. Parents protested...they were actually 20 children with 4 caretakers. Closing it down will create a lot of problems for most parents especially those from low income group. So, they brought the matter to the director...he quickly instructed for a study on the needs of the place...and so we did...we called a meeting but no PUSPANITA rep came, we came up with a resolution that the place should remain open. We brought it back to the director and he agreed for it to remain open and we are to find a new management for the place. We went to JKM (Jabatan Kemajuan Masyarakat) for advice and inquire for a license. We took all the necessary action.
Meanwhile, PUSPANITA KPM called for a meeting on the status of the nursery. We told them about the earlier meeting we had and the outcome of it. But they shunned us off that whatever discussion we had with the ETD's management has nothing to do with them. So we sat there and listened. They said they will closed it down, we thought we will reopen it. They said they will discuss with INTAN to take in our children, we thought we will still leave the children where they are. They said whatever we decided to do thereafter will be up to us, we thought 'fine". So , they were happy as of 1st July they have nothing to do with ETD.
We went to INTAN, the place wasn't as cheerful as ours and moreover they declined to take children below 2 or still unable to walk. So, we were unhappy about the place we like ours better.
But PUSPANITA was not happy. They said we are so bold and disobedient and stubborn for refusing to close down the place. We understood to have closed it down but reopened it. We understood there's no need to be so angry we will take over the place. But they were still not happy..after 1st July they still harassing us. They brought the matter to the higher management...unfortunately for us our director left the division. And so the deputy director took over the management..but she was..... she wanted to help but there was ....but... Unfortunate for us again when there came a new chief assistant director who used to handle a nursery in Putrajaya. We thought she could help but she too was for PUSPANITA. She was the one who pushed our deputy director to close the place and harassed everyone else.
What does she know about the place? She was new here...I wonder if she has visited the place...I wonder if she really understand our plight..she has no children (that's what I was informed)..and she's a woman..what an irony!
The place has been there for more than ten years. Over the years there was no problem. We actually have upgraded the place: threw out the old carpet, replace the toilet for the convenient of the children and build a kitchen. Do they have any immediate plan if they were to close the place today?
We will fight back..until I satisfied on the justification for it to be closed down. At the moment the only excuse they gave is that the place is not approved by the local authority (DBKL). We called DBKL and was informed that the place has been granted a license to operate then , so there was no reason not to be this time...I wonder. God help us and those who support us. We have many channels to refer our problems but first we will meet the MOE Chief Secretary.
