KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 — Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz warned SJKC today not to “fight” with him over a contentious plot of land that Putrajaya has agreed to lease to the primary school.

The tourism and culture minister welcomed the school authorities to negotiate with him over the 15,000 sq ft piece of land, which his ministry had initially intended to acquire from Chin Woo for the Kota Warisan project, but told them sternly today not to “mess around” with him. 

“Don't say it's my land. I'll fight them to death,” Nazri told a press conference after the Malaysia International Golf Fair Symposium here today.

“Don't mess around with me. It's government land. It's my land. If you're prepared to come and admit you made a mistake, lease from me. Talk to me. But don't fight with me,” he added.

Parents of the school students had objected to the tourism and culture ministry’s decision last July to take over the land to build a RM32.5 million Cultural Village, under the Kota Warisan project.

They pointed out that the school has been using the particular piece of land as a basketball court since 1938.

Following their protests, the federal government offered to lease the land to the 84-year-old Chinese school, located in Jalan Pasar here, instead for 20 years, at a rate of RM1,000 per acre annually.

The leasing contract is renewable upon expiry, subject to the availability of the land.

Chin Woo’s general affairs head Chow Kee Hui was reported by The Malay Mail today as saying that Putrajaya has given the school a month to consider the offer.

The decision was made after Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Ali Hamsa met with Chin Woo and the United Chinese School Committees Association (Dong Zong) yesterday.

“However, it would only be a short-term measure because both sides will still have to revisit discussions upon the lease’s expiry,” Dong Zong president Yap Sin Tian was quoted as saying.

Chin Woo school chairman Oo Tin Fuan reportedly said it would be best if the school could own the land forever, but noted that the offer will be considered.

Nazri told Chin Woo today that he is “reasonable”.

“That’s my land. Don’t tell me what to do,” said the outspoken politician.

The Kota Warisan cultural village project involves the construction of an auditorium, a restaurant and a six-storey complex.