Dong Zong duo get more flak
(The Star) – The MCA has slammed the top two leaders of the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia for “using” the organisation to further their personal agenda.
Party president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said Dong Zong chairman Yap Sin Tian and his deputy Chow Siew Hon had caused a split in the Chinese community instead of bringing them together in developing Chinese education.
“We feel it is time to evaluate these two leaders; whether they are suitable to lead Dong Zong,” he said after a briefing on Chinese school issues here yesterday.
The session was attended by 250 representatives from the board of directors and parent-teacher associations of Chinese schools in Johor.
On the Sept 26 rally, which is seeking to oust Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong as the Deputy Education Minister, Dr Chua said the “whole purpose of the 926 rally is to damage the MCA and Barisan Nasional”.
He said the party had all along been cooperating with Chinese schools to resolve their issues.
Later, in JOHOR BARU, the MCA president said the Chinese community should realise the importance of having a good command of at least three languages to have a competitive edge.
Aside from the importance of the mother-tongue, he said the community should know two other languages too.
“Having a good command of least three languages serves as an added advantage in the competitive world as well as the chance to contribute to the nation better,” he said at a dinner on Saturday for SJKC Pei Chih, Taman Desa Cemerlang, to raise funds for a new RM1.5mil multi-purpose hall.
Dr Chua recounted his experience in 1992 when he visited Shenzhen, China, where he faced difficulty in understanding the government officials’ English.
“But the situation is so much better now,” he said. “Recently, I visited China again, and I must say that their command of English is better than some of us.
“Although China, as an economic giant, still uses Chinese as their main language, they have come to realise the importance of learning another language,” he pointed out.
Dr Chua also debunked claims by certain parties that the Government did not care about Chinese education, citing how it had helped in the development of Chinese schools besides recognising qualifications from 820 universities in China.
After his speech, Dr Chua announced a RM200,000 donation to fund the school hall.
