Dong Zong split into Team A and Team B
(The Sun Daily) – Former Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees Association) secretariat chief executive officer Bock Tai Hee said the organisation’s leadership has split into Team A and Team B, with each planning to move a vote of no-confidence on the other in the May 11 conference.
Bock said insider news that Dong Zong is split is heart-wrenching and wanted president Yap Sin Tian to prove it wrong as “I like unity within the Chinese education movement to prevail”, Chinese press reported today.
Speaking at a forum, “The Challenges facing Chinese Education”, in Segamat, Johor, on Saturday night, Bock stressed that what the Chinese community wants is a united Dong Zong and not one that quarrels like a political party.
The Chinese educationist, who had served Dong Zong for three decades since 1981, declined to name who is heading Team B but said he was speaking up as he is still concerned about the organisation.
He pointed out that in the seven years since Yap took over the helm, Dong Zong had found itself being distanced by other Chinese organisations such as Jiao Zong (United Chinese School Teachers Association), United Chinese School Alumni Association of Malaysia, and Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall.
He said apart from leading the fight to overcome the problems facing Chinese education, Dong Zong should work hard to gain the acceptance and support of more Malays and Indians “as Chinese schools are not for Chinese alone but for the country and all the people”.
Meanwhile, Yap said he was not aware of any split in the organisation but will look into the allegation.
Dong Zong secretary-general Poh Chin Chuan dismissed talk of a split, saying the existence of differences within a leadership is normal.
According to Nanyang Siang Pau, Yap’s rivals are planning to move a vote of no-confidence against him and his deputy Chow Siew Hon at the coming meeting, while leaders aligned with Yap and Chow will try to remove Poh and several others holding key positions.
