Prime Minister’s Office: Govt extends Convent Bukit Nanas land lease for another 60 years

KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 — The government has decided to extend the land lease for SMK Convent Bukit Nanas for another 60 years, the Prime Minister’s Office announced today.

The announcement comes just months ahead of the lease’s expiry this September 6, and also amid an ongoing court challenge by the school against the land office’s refusal to extend the lease.

“The extension is given to SMK Convent Bukit Nanas for educational purposes only,” said the PMO in a statement.

Both the Chief Secretary of the Government and the Federal Territories Land and Mines director have met with the Lady Superior of the Society of Saint Muar Theresa Chua, who represents the board of trustees for SMK Convent Bukit Nanas.

Both sides have agreed to the recommended resolutions that were discussed.

“With this decision, may SMK Convent Bukit Nanas continue to succeed as a School Cluster of Excellence in producing ideal individuals of high quality for the nation,” said the PMO.

The ongoing court case over the Federal Territories Land and Mines Office’s refusal to extend the land lease for the school began as early as 2017.

On October 4 of that year, the school wrote to the Federal Territories Land Office to ask for an extension of the land lease that was due to expire on September 6, 2021, but only received a response in January 2021 with a letter dated December 18, 2020 to notify the non-renewal of the lease but with no reason stated for the decision.

The school filed a court challenge on April 7 to seek the quashing of the decision to not renew the land lease. On April 19 (Monday), the school obtained leave from the court to proceed with the hearing of this judicial review, with the Attorney General’s Chambers not objecting to leave being granted.