Dong Zong clarifies Dec 28 event not rally, only discussion on Jawi

The Dec 28 congress to be held by Dong Zong and Jiao Zong (Dong Jiao Zong) is not a protest but an indoor event to discuss the implementation of Jawi script lessons in vernacular schools, clarifies Dong Zong Central Committee member Low Chee Chong.

Speaking with Malaysiakini, he said the meeting is only opened to representatives of Chinese NGOs and not members of the public.

"This is a meeting that will discuss education topics and the Jawi script issue. The meeting (is called) to express the stance (of Chinese NGOs), and it is not a racial gathering," he said.

Low emphasised that the congress would only be held inside a hall on the fifth floor of the New Era University College building and there was no plan for the participants of the meeting to go outside for a rally.

Dong Jiao Zong came under criticism after announcing its plan to hold the Chinese Organisations Congress on Dec 28.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad raised concerns that such an event might court reactions from the Malay community and ultimately, lead to chaos.

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim also urged the parties to cancel the congress and return to dialogues instead.

While some supported the right of Dong Jiao Zong to hold the congress, others called for the congress to be stopped and the Chinese educationist groups to be banned.

Acknowledging the escalating racial tension following the announcement of the congress on Dec 12, Dong Jiao Zong decided to rename the event as "Chinese Organisations Joint Conference".

Low explained the renaming is meant to better represent the exact nature of the event so no one would assume this is an anti-Jawi congress.

He denied Dong Jiao Zong bowed to pressure and renamed the event.

"(Renaming) is to put a clearer definition. This is mainly because some called it a rally or protest or whatever nonsense name," he said.

Elaborating further, he said the participants of the conference would have to register with Dong Jiao Zong first.

He said the organiser invited numerous of Chinese NGOs, including few Malay, Indian as well as friends from East Malaysia.

He said over 80 NGOs agreed as of today.

It was earlier reported that the meeting was organised to protest the latest teaching guidelines by the Education Ministry for Jawi script lessons.

The aim of the conference is to convince the government to cancel the lessons in vernacular schools.

The new guidelines allow parents to decide if such lessons can be introduced in schools. The lessons will proceed if more than half of all parents agree to it.

Dong Jiao Zong disagrees with this on grounds that it will ruin the relationship among parents from different ethnicities who send their children to vernacular schools, especially the Chinese language ones.

It insists that the schools' board of governors ought to have a say in the decision to implement Jawi script lessons which are slated to begin next year for Standard Four pupils. - Mkini