Statement by Dong Zong

 17 January 2020

Glad to see assistance for non-governmental educational institutions 

Hope for government to institutionalize fair allocation of funds

Dong Zong welcomes and recognizes the move by the Ministry of Finance in allocating funds to three non-governmental university colleges and all Chinese independent secondary schools in the country for the second consecutive year.

Following the same move made in 2019, the Ministry of Finance has again allocated RM2 million each to New Era University College, Hanjiang Media University College as well as Southern University College and a total of RM15 million to all Chinese independent secondary schools in the country. This special gift, presented just before Chinese New Year, will be able to relieve the financial burden of the three non-governmental tertiary educational institutions. It is also RM3 million higher as compared with the allocation made to the Chinese independent secondary schools last year. Such a move shows the attention given by the Pakatan Harapan government towards non-profit educational institutions.

The three non-governmental tertiary educational institutions mentioned above and all the Chinese independent secondary schools in Malaysia have, for many years, nurtured talents for the country and contributed much to the nation. They should have been supported by the government long ago. We hopes that the Pakatan Harapan government is aware of the importance of educational investment in upgrading the nation’s competitiveness and the quality of its people. And since it is willing to take the unprecedented move of allocating funds to Chinese independent secondary schools and non-governmental tertiary educational institutions, it should continue to implement fairer policies for schools of various streams. Henceforth, it should also institutionalize the fund allocation process in a fairer and more reasonable manner to ensure equitable distribution of benefits. This will enable the non-profit educational institutions to forge ahead in their endeavours to contribute to national development.

Joint Statement by Dong Zong and Jiao Zong

8 January 2020

PUTRA denounced for pressuring to remove CNY decorations

Government needs to curb attempts to stir up racial sentiments

Dong Jiao Zong strongly denounces Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (PUTRA) for pressuring Sekolah Menengah Kerajaan (SMK) Pusat Bandar Puchong 1 to remove its Chinese New Year decorations.

PUTRA has earlier on brought a lawsuit to challenge the constitutionality of Chinese and Tamil primary schools and now, its deputy president Mohd Khairul, based on his twisted interpretation of the Federal Constitution, has alleged that the Chinese New Year festive decorations at SMK Bandar Puchong No. 1 were “propagating a non-Islam religion to the Muslims”. Apparently, he was trying to link traditional cultural celebrations to religious preaching. Such an unfounded accusation has once again stirred up interracial suspicion and misunderstanding. It is an attempt to incite racial sentiments and may pose a danger in dividing the society. Dong Jiao Zong strongly denounces such an attempt. The school principal gave in to the pressure from a political party and before lodging any report with the police and the State Education Department, she instructed to take down the Chinese New Year decorations. This is not the appropriate approach in handling the issue.

Malaysia is a nation with many ethnic groups, cultures and religions. The Ministry of Education has always been actively promoting the culture of mutual respect at schools of various streams. For example, in Chinese primary schools, decorations of various festivals such as Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Deepavali are put up to promote the pupils’ understanding of the festivals celebrated by different ethnic groups and this has been carried out for many years. Besides, the government institutions have always put up relevant decorations during the festive seasons of various races and organized the festive celebration ceremonies. These are the best reflections of the pluralistic characteristics and interracial harmony of our nation.

Faced with such increasingly prevalent rhetoric of racial and religious extremism, Dong Jiao Zong firmly believes that the government must take a serious view of the matter. The government must make the utmost effort to curb any action aimed at stirring up racial conflicts. It has to safeguard national peace as well as racial harmony and avoid fueling the arrogance of the racists.

Statement by Dong Zong

3 January 2020

Respect Maszlee’s decision to resign

Hope the new minister will continue to carry out reforms

Dong Zong expresses surprise over the recent abrupt resignation of Minister of Education Dr. Maszlee Malik. Nevertheless, we respect his decision and we hope that his resignation will not affect the policy reforms that have been implemented by the Ministry of Education in recent year.

Implementation of education policy reforms is not seen as an individual’s effort in taking a hundred steps forward. Rather, it is more aptly perceived as a hundred people working together to take a step forward. It is our wish that the new candidate to lead the Ministry of Education will see himself as a Minister of Education for all the people of Malaysia. He should possess the attribute of policy sensitivity such that before implementing any major measure, he will communicate and dialogue with the relevant organizations from various ethnic communities in order to ensure smooth implementation, acceptance by the people as well as achievement of efficiency and effectiveness. We also hope that the new Minister of Education will consider to include the boards of directors of Chinese and Tamil primary schools in the list of decision-making units for matters concerning the teaching of Jawi scripts, and that at the same time, he will implement the teaching of Jawi scripts in national-type schools based on the principle of multiculturalism in order to resolve the disputes soonest possible.

In the pluralistic context of Malaysia, the Minister of Education has to accommodate and harmonize the expectations of various communities. Such a portfolio is thus one of the most challenging in the Federal Cabinet. During his tenure as the Minister of Education, Dr. Maszlee Malik had done what he should in carrying out certain measures for educational reforms. His efforts in introducing various reforms such as granting autonomy to universities, abolishing examinations for pupils at lower primary school levels, promoting zero dropout programme, getting rid of corruption, implementing national reading campaign and so on should be viewed positively and recognized.

A scholar enters politics but eventually finds the political reality in stark contrast with his values and convictions; such a story is not uncommon in history. Dong Zong hopes that former minister Dr. Maszlee Malik, after going through the experience of leading the Ministry of Education for the past 20 months, and having gained more practical realizations and in-depth reflections beyond the world of academia, will continue to do what he can for the nation and the society. We also wish that his successor will be able to carry on with the good policies formulated during his tenure of office, to break through constraints and to overcome pressure, all for creating a much more tolerant and accommodating new Malaysia. This is also the fervent hope of all the people in the country.

Joint Statement Made in the Joint Meeting of the Chinese Communities on 28^th December, 2019   

The Jawi Scripts Learning Disputes—Safeguarding the Role of the Board of Directors

The Chinese communities in Malaysia have always been observing the spirit of multiculturalism in this multiracial, multicultural and multi-religious country. They have never at any stage protested against the learning of language of other ethnic groups. That said, when the government is implementing Jawi scripts learning in national-typed Chinese and Tamil primary schools, the principle of multiculturalism should be adhered.

The inclusion of Jawi scripts in national-typed Chinese and Tamil primary schools, from the launching of operation guidelines to the amendment of guidelines vividly shows a lack of professionalism in practice which subsequently begged public resentment.

There is no gainsaying that the Board of Directors of any national-typed Chinese and Tamil primary schools is the mastermind on the advancement of the schools. The disrespect of the Board of Directors or veto to the role of the Board of Directors on the Jawi scripts learning event has accelerated disturbances and doubts from parties involved and it was obviously not a zero sum solution. This indicates that the Ministry of Education ignores suggestions from the Chinese communities and has no sincerity in solving the argument which ended up in the loss of confidence and disappointment.

Based on the fact that there is a strong opposition to the Jawi scripts learning from both the Chinese and Indian communities, any pushed implementation will accelerate confrontations between the general public and the government. It further poses a harm to harmony in the country. Therefore, we urge the government to exhibit the will to tackle the argument and rectify the policy which obviously incurs anxiety among the parties.

For the sake of long term interests of the country and the uphold of racial harmony, the following decisions had been made in the joint meeting:

1. We persistently safeguard the role of the Board of Directors; in any implementation practiced in national-typed Chinese and Tamil primary schools, their board of Directors plays the decisive role;
2. We urge the government to be amenable to public appeal, viz., to withdraw the decision to include Jawi scripts learning in national-typed Chinese and Tamil primary schools Standard Four syllabus;
3. We are convinced, any school in Malaysia should reflect and promote multiculturalism, and thus we accept that Jawi scripts, Chinese calligraphy and Tamil calligraphy and other ethnic culture can be introduced in the curriculum syllabus, such as the introduction of calligraphies of ethnic groups in Standard Five Bahasa Melayu primary school textbook; and
4. We urge the government to arrange a dialogue on the matter of Jawi scripts learning with the Chinese communities shortly.

The participated parties in the joint meeting are as follows:

1. Persekutuan Persatuan-persatuan Lembaga Pengurus Sekolah Cina Malaysia (Dong Zong)
2. Gabungan Persatuan Guru-guru Sekolah Cina Malaysia (Jiao Zong)
3. Gabungan Pertubuhan Cina Malaysia (Hua Zong)
4. Merdeka University Berhad
5. Persekutuan Persatuan-Persatuan Alumni Sekolah China Malaysia
6. LLG Cultural Development Centre
7. The Federation of Alumni Association of Taiwan Universities, Malaysia
8. The Association of Graduates From Universities and Colleges of China, Malaysia
9. Majlis Bahasa Cina Malaysia
10. The Federation of Hokkien Associations of Malaysia
11. The Federation of Kwang Tung Associations Malaysia
12. Persekutuan Persatuan-Persatuan Hakka Malaysia
13. The Federated Teochew Associations of Malaysia
14. The Federation of Hainan Association Malaysia
15. Persatuan Guangxi Malaysia
16. Pertubuhan Gerakan Belia Bersatu Malaysia (GBBM)
17. Majlis Gabungan-gabungan Bahagian Belia Pertubuhan Klan Kebangsaan Malaysia

Supported by parties as per follows:

1. Tamil Foundation
2. Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO)
3. Educational, Welfare and Research Foundation (EWRF)
4. CHILD Information, Learning and Development Centre
5. Partners of Community Organisations (PACOS, Sabah)
6. SAVE Rivers (Sarawak)

Joint Statement Made by Dong Zong and Jiao Zong

December 27, 2019

Dong Jiao Zong received an injunction from the court handed in by the local police at 5.10 pm. It prohibits Dong Jiao Zong from holding a Joint Congress for the Chinese communities in the auditorium hall at New Era University College on the 5^th level the following day.

To observe the directive, the joint meeting is called to a halt the following day (December 28, 2019). We herewith inform all participating parties and representatives our decision to cancel the proposed Joint Congress.

An internal meeting mooting for further responses will be held shortly. Any decision made will be updated accordingly.

Joint Statement Made by Dong Zong and Jiao Zong

December 24, 2019

Mutual Dialogue Proposed by Anwar Welcomed—All Parties Should Settle the Dispute Rationally

In response to Mr Anwar Ibrahim’s (the President of the People’s Justice Party) statement dated 23 December 2019 suggesting the parties concerned to settle the Jawi Scripts Learning matter through further dialogue, Dong Jiao Zong herewith pronounces:

1. Dong Jiao Zong welcomes Mr Anwar Ibrahim’s concern over the Jawi Scripts Learning imposed on national-typed Chinese and Tamil primary schools and agrees with his proposal, viz., to properly settle the dispute through mutual dialogue;
2. Dong Jiao Zong reiterates its position to always safeguard Bahasa Melayu as the national language and has never at any moment protested against Jawi scripts. Dong Jiao Zong is indeed much delighted to see that calligraphies of the ethnic groups are introduced in a pluralistic approach such as the way calligraphies are presented in the existing primary school Grade Five Bahasa Melayu coursebook;
3. Dong Jiao Zong stands its position firmly from the commencement that multiculturalism in this country must be upheld through rational and compassionate approach. Whether it is before or after the December 28 Joint Congress, Dong Jiao Zong will take the initiative to earnestly communicate and exchange with the parties and stakeholders involved, in particular the Minister of Education Dr Maszlee Malik and other non-government associations, seeking after racial understanding for an adequate solution; and
4. Dong Jiao Zong posits that the Board of Directors is the baby-sitter of national-typed Chinese and Tamil primary schools, its force is formed by members from all walks of life, including parents, alumni, sponsors, trustees and government representatives. Concurrently, 1996 Education Act likewise grants the Board of Directors sovereign rights in these schools. Therefore, Dong Jiao Zong believes that on the Jawi Scripts Learning matter, the Board of Directors of national-typed primary schools must be the decision-maker.