APRIL 21 — The United Chinese School Committees Association (Dong Zong) has been highly respected for its commitment to defending Chinese education, including fighting for the government’s recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) over all these years.

However, under the current leadership of Chairman Yap Sin Tian and his deputy Chow Siew Hon in recent years, a number of controversies emerged, putting Dong Zong at the risk of split. Dong Zong is now divided into two factions, the ruling faction is having a tough and dictatorial attitude while the reform faction keeps protesting. Recently, Yap and Chow even quarrelled with central committee member Yang Yin Chong in front of the media with crude language, bringing deep shame on the Chinese community.

The controversy was brought to the court, adding a real embarrassment to the history of Dong Zong, but the dispute remains unresolved. Yap and Chow claimed that they have been acting in accordance with the association’s constitution but had continued convening the 7th meeting of Dong Zong central committee on April 9th even failing in achieving the quorum, and resolved to set up a so-called “administrative department investigation team”. The storm is spread to the administration due to the wayward style of Yap and Chow, planting a dangerous seed for the collapse of Chinese education.

The administration department of Dong Zong plays an important role in the development of Chinese independent schools. It is responsible for promoting examination and curriculum unification, teacher training, further study guidance and other hard work. However, the investigation team’s intervention has affected the administrative department’s operation. The accusations and warning from Dong Zong’s leadership have confused and pressured the head and staff of the administrative department, while also greatly hit their morale.

A highly efficient and professional team consisting of more than a hundred members was established after more than 60 years of struggle to develop Chinese education. How could Dong Zong achieve today’s status without their professional dedication? If the morale of the administrative department collapses due to the intervention of Dong Zong’s leadership, it will not only affect all Chinese independent schools nationwide, but also undermine the foundation of Chinese education which was built with decades of efforts.

Dong Zong had been united and it maintained close ties with the United Chinese Schools Teachers’ Association (Jiao Zong) and Chinese groups when it was led by Lim Fong Seng to Quek Suan Hiang. But today, under the leadership of Yap and Chow, it encounters a serious internal division and becomes enemies of Jiao Zong, while distancing away from Chinese groups. In this case, how could Dong Zong keep leading Chinese education movements?

Dong Zong is part of the Chinese community, instead of private property of Yap and Chow. The storm has been delayed for too long and there should be no more tolerance for further deterioration. It is time for all Chinese education groups nationwide to play their influence and express their views on Yap and Chow, to pull Dong Zong out of the impasse and put it back onto the right track.

Since internal negotiations and constitution, and even laws have failed to resolve the internal conflicts of Dong Zong, only re-integration and re-election can avoid further destruction to Dong Zong. Most importantly, Dong Zong leaders must exercise self-restraint, be moderate, and not to harm the great work established by Dong Zong with years of hardships for personal interests. — Sin Chew Daily

** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.