Statement and Declaration Released by Dong Zong

November 4, 2018

Appropriation for MICSS in Budget 2019 Commended—

Fair Treatment for All Vernacular Schools Urged

1. In the Budget 2019, 60.2 billion was appropriated to the MOE which is 19.1 percent out of the total appropriation sum and thus it is actually the most allocated ministry. It verily translates the new government’s realisation of the crucial role education plays in the promotion of commercial competitiveness and citizen quality. We welcome and commend this constructive act knowing deep down the appropriation on education reform as an investment will only be fruitful as ascribed when the execution power of the government is resolute.

2. In matters of appropriation, we are overjoyed and exalted by the first ever Budget appropriation of 12 million to all independent Chinese secondary schools nationwide. Notwithstanding the sum of 12 million, comparatively it is a meagre sum in the face of annual deficit shouldered by all independent Chinese secondary schools nationally. Yet this compassionate act is heartily appreciated while the country is experiencing financial difficulty. But we wish that this move would be the first step of systemised appropriation, a good start, which would augur well in years to come for all independent Chinese secondary schools when the government’s financial situation finally rebounds.

3. The appropriation pronouncement indicates that the new government is willing to provide all vernacular schools with fairer treatment. We hope this attitude will be engaged by the Pakatan Harapan government while addressing problems faced by all streams and vernacular schools and systemise the appropriation at a much fairer level. We also hope that the government will schedule a meeting with us Dong Zong to deliberate the next course of actions and formulate appropriation criteria.

4. Past experience informs us that the appropriation provided by the government towards national-type schools is inconsistent; at times, several rounds of negotiations or charettes had to be staged by the Chinese community for the release of the appropriation accordingly. As a matter of fact, the 15 billion Budget appropriation towards independent Chinese secondary schools is wished to be a yearly systemised allocation for national-type secondary schools.

5. Further, it is also noted that the new government will specifically appropriate 3 billion for vocational education fund and another 2 billion for youth vocational training fund. Inspired by the ongoing, we would remind the Chinese community to keep an eye on its follow-ups and show solicitude for its relevant development closely.

6. In matters of budget appropriation, we believe there is still room for improvement in terms of education appropriation; for instance, in the Budget, 21 billion will be appropriated to Bumiputera education and human resource, though justifiable from the aspect of vulnerable Malay groups, there is no relative appropriation for other ethnic groups and thus unfair in resource distribution. In addition, the donations towards national institutions are exempt from taxation whereas donations funding privately run institutions such as independent Chinese secondary schools are otherwise requested to apply individually for exemption.

Statement and Declaration Released by Dong Zong

October 17, 2018

Dong Zong Is Against Full and Half Subsidy Provisions—

Prompt Response to SJK (C) Chung Ching’s Branch Application Urged

The Deputy Minister of Education Teo Nie Ching announced in the cabinet meeting that the branch Kuantan National-type Chung Ching Chinese Primary School must firstly apply to be a Full Subsidy School before the MOE can settle its branch and main school’s administrative matter concurrently. In response to this, Dong Zong herewith forwards its statement and declaration as follows:

1. The branch Kuantan National-type Chung Ching Chinese Primary School was established in 1999 before the election after having been approved by the former government. Going through much obstacles, it was formally opened in 2013. Since there is a distance between the main and branch Kuantan National-type Chung Ching Chinese Primary School, the sole headmaster from the main school found it exhausting attending to the administration of the two schools. On that score, the Chung Ching Primary School Board wished its branch school could be approved as Chung Ching 2^nd Primary School such that it could operate within individual administration, that is, owning its headmaster, teachers and staff.

2. According to “Education Act 1996”, there are three types of schools in Malaysia education system, namely, National School, National-type School and Private School. The categorisation of these three types of schools has nothing to do with its entitlement of school lot ownership. By and large, we understand that “National School” is not “Full Subsidy School” and “National-type School” is not “Half Subsidy School” either.

3. The intent of the Chung Ching Primary School Board of Directors to term its branch school as Chung Ching 2^nd Primary School does not in any way correlate with the so-called school lot ownership or “Full Subsidy/Half Subsidy”. We hence conclude, to categorise schools as Full Subsidy or Half Subsidy based on the entitlement of school lot ownership is verily the self-customised measure of violation accorded by the MOE officials. As such, the Deputy Minister of Education Teo Nie Ching should not take advantage of the “Napoleon’s” measure to make things difficult for the said school to apply for the status of its branch. History shows that there were schools with branch and were eventually approved to have the schools divided into main and branch. We beseech the Deputy Minister of Education Teo Nie Ching to look into the case closely such that the mentioned branch school can be approved as Chung Ching 2^nd Primary School shortly.

Statement Released by Dong Zong

September 22, 2018

Tax Exemption for “MICSS Education Blueprint” Fundraising Commended—

Enaction of Tax Exemption for Donors and Beneficiaries Urged

Dong Zong acknowledges the positive response from the Ministry of Finance to exempt an estimated tax of RM853,000.00 on Dong Zong after two tax exemption applications on the fund it raised for the “MICSS Education Blueprint” in 2017. Here being Dong Zong’s statement proper:

1. For the sake of effective execution of MICSS education reform and the continuity of Chinese education in Malaysia, Dong Zong established an ad hoc committee for the “MICSS Education Blueprint” in 2016. It is intended for the comprehensive review of its “MICSS Education Reform Guidelines” launched in 2005. Experts, scholars and Chinese education stakeholders were then ensembled to embark on a rigid survey on the current situation of independent Chinese secondary schools at national level. Later, school boards, principals, teachers, students, parents, alumni and stakeholders were requested to contribute views and comments for the “MICSS Education Blueprint” drafting, with the objective of outlining its next ten years’ direction and vision. After much concerted efforts and hard work, the “MICSS Education Blueprint” was completed and formally launched on 12 August this year as ascribed. Meanwhile, for the settlement of expenses, assurance as well as the practice of its implementation, a fundraising event was staged for the target sum of RM5 million in 2017. The good news is, as of September 30 this year, the target sum was raised successfully.

Unfortunately, an estimated tax of RM853,000.00 was incurred from the raised RM5 million. Dong Zong raised the fund for educational purpose as well as operating expenses as a non-profit academic institution, the surplus of its operating expenses and fund raised should be exempt from taxation such that more private organisations will be willing to partake and contribute in national education. In this train of thought, through much effort and interactions, Dong Zong applied for tax exemption twice in letter (March 23 and June 8 respectively) for the estimated tax of RM853,000.00 from the Ministry of Finance. Finally, on 12 September, Dong Zong received an exemption reply dated August 24 from the Ministry of Finance. To this open and compassionate response from the Ministry of Finance, we express herewith our heartfelt acknowledgement. We believe, the willing dedications of private sectors on education industry owed much to the positive encouragement and understanding of the elected Pakatan Harapan government.

2. Other than the above, in the 91^st joint meeting held between Dong Zong and its state members on 25 August this year, the proposal “urging the government to exempt the surplus of non-profit academic institution operation expenses and fund raised from taxation such that more private organisations or institutions will willingly partake and contribute in national education” was approved.

As it is known, private sectors and non-profit organisations of various sorts have since been voluntarily providing financial contribution and substantial efforts in the nurture of polymaths and professionals in nation building. Their voluntary engagement in education is in essence unconditional; the government in turn should allocate appropriation responsively to render encouragement and support for better outcome and more contributions alike.

We wish, as a last note, the government would exempt taxation of the surplus of non-profit academic institution operation expenses and fund raised on one hand, and regulate a policy which automatically exempts donors and beneficiaries from taxation for education related matters as a proactive encouragement.

Joint Statement Released by Dong Zong and Jiao Zong

September 21, 2018

Of late, the MOE Examination Division pronounced if any one candidate requests during a public examination in a vernacular school, invigilator who knows the candidate’s mother tongue but not the chief invigilator is allowed to explain the examination instructions further; moreover, all state Education Bureaus are also directed to assure invigilators of this sort be assigned to both Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools. Dong Zong and Jiao Zong take this directive uncompromising and urge for further explanation as it justifies the government’s intent to appoint non-Chinese-speaking chief invigilators to Chinese vernacular schools during examination with only one (or at least one) Chinese-versed invigilator accompanies. Dong Zong and Jiao Zong are deeply concerned about this with angst thus calling the Chinese community to respond, believing that it will eventually browse the unique characteristics of Chinese primary schools.

1. Dong Zong and Jiao Zong posit, based on the inherence that mother tongue is the medium of instruction for all vernacular schools, chief invigilators posted to vernacular schools should be able to speak in that particular tongue; take for instance, the medium of instruction in Chinese vernacular schools is Chinese, thus the chief invigilator as the accountable figure in the examination should by right be able to speak in Chinese for better handling of various matters, including explaining examination instructions to the candidates. This is believed to be the correct and necessary way. In fact, chief invigilator using Chinese for explanation in examination accords the characteristics of Chinese vernacular schools and also is the persistent request of Dong Zong and Jiao Zong over the years.

2. All this while, the MOE appointed chief invigilators in a compromising way, viz., sending Chinese speaking chief invigilators to Chinese primary schools during public examinations. But unfortunately, due to the mishandling of certain officials of the MOE, the mentioned incident happened sporadically. With the strident opposition raised by Chinese community, some incidents were resolved while others are still pending for solution. Frankly, the unsolved cases make things inconvenient for the schools involved, so to speak. The appointment this year worsened the dispute and aroused angst among the Chinese community. Eventually, the Deputy Minister of Education Teo Nie Ching was appealed to address the problem.

3. To our regret, notwithstanding the ongoing disputes and worries, the MOE Examination Division directed that “if any one candidate requests during an examination taking place in a vernacular school, invigilator who knows the candidate’s mother tongue but not the chief invigilator is allowed to explain the examination instructions further”. As the directive did not request the chief invigilator to be Chinese-speaking, but only that at least one invigilator who knows the candidate’s mother tongue be present, the intention of deliberate justification of the ongoing practice in certain states—sending non-Chinese-speaking chief invigilators to Chinese primary schools in public examinations which is deemed inappropriate—is evident. Dong Zong and Jiao Zong found it worrying and uncompromising. The act, if not curbed, is worried to gradually browse Chinese vernacular schools’ unique characteristic of using Chinese as their medium of instruction.

4. Further, “if any one candidate requests during an examination taking place in a vernacular school, invigilator who knows the candidate’s mother tongue but not the chief invigilator is allowed to explain the examination instructions further” as pronounced is reckoned unreasonable. In Chinese primary school public examination, the chief invigilators are expected to explain the instructions in Chinese to the Chinese candidates directly and not when they are requested. We believe this improper practice needs to be rectified as it not only is detrimental to the candidates but also incurs negative impact seminally. Nonetheless, in the said examinations, let alone the chief invigilators being Chinese-speaking, sufficient Chinese-speaking invigilators need to be sent to such schools to facilitate and assure the smooth running of the examinations.

5. Dong Zong and Jiao Zong insist, Chinese-speaking invigilators to be sent to Chinese primary schools for assured handling of all matters during the examinations and it is persisted by Chinese community and believed to be the right and reasonable approach unanimously. The strident opposition against the said measure from the Chinese community shows both inherent and deep concern to safeguard the continuity of Chinese education in this country. The Deputy Minister of Education Teo Nie Ching thus should not take it as an overreaction of the Chinese community, instead, she needs to listen to the voices attentively and address the worries appropriately, including withdrawing the relevant pronouncement and regulate it on paper that “chief-invigilators appointed should be Chinese-speaking” for the non-deterioration assurance of Chinese vernacular schools.

6. On that score, Dong Zong and Jiao Zong urge the Deputy Minister of Education Teo Nie Ching to schedule a meet-up for the exchanges of pent up Chinese issues, including the UPSR (Primary School Achievement Test) chief invigilator appointment for a long-term solution.

Joint Statement Released by Dong Zong and Jiao Zong

September 16, 2018

Dong Zong and Jiao Zong are deeply concerned about the position of vernacular School Inspector and its possible eventual abolishment attributed to the latest released state Education Bureau administrative structure which leaves the power and status of School Inspector and Chinese Subject Inspector of national-type Chinese primary schools undefined.

1. Dong Zong and Jiao Zong reckon, notwithstanding the Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching had pronounced in the reformed administration structure of state Education Bureau, the School Inspector and Chinese Subject Inspector of national-type Chinese primary schools would not be deleted, her comments could not eliminate doubts and worries of the Chinese community. It is noticed in the new administrative structure of the state Education Bureau, the words “Chinese Subject” are omitted from the existing “Chinese Subject Inspector” and it is instead re-termed as “Language Assistant Director” thus understood as “applicable for all languages”. On the other hand, the words “Chinese Primary Schools” are omitted from “Chinese Primary Schools School Inspector” and re-termed as “Primary School Assistant Director” thus “to be responsible for all vernacular schools”. Since the two positions are not defined precisely, viz., not clearly stated to be responsible for Chinese subject and Chinese primary schools only, it makes their power and status ambiguous and likely to generate deficiencies, or more perturbed, certain vernacular schools as well as subjects can be excluded unnoticeably.

2. We believe, due to the uniqueness of secondary school Chinese subject and Chinese primary schools, the person who assumes either “Chinese Subject Inspector” or “Chinese Primary Schools School Inspector” must meet specific requirements and qualifications, that is, to have a degree of command in the Chinese language. In this vein, Dong Zong and Jiao Zong earnestly urge the Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching to ensure the preservation of “Chinese Primary Schools School Inspector” (or Chinese Primary School Assistant Director) and “Chinese Subject Inspector” (or Chinese Subject Assistant Director) as well as assigning qualified persons for the said posts so that Chinese education in Chinese primary schools and national secondary schools are not affected.

3. Dong Zong and Jiao Zong understand all the state “Chinese Primary Schools School Inspector” and “Chinese Subject Inspector” are playing critical role in Chinese education. Take “Chinese Subject Inspector” for example, since the post was first launched in 2000 by the MOE nationwide, the Chinese classes scheduled in the national schools have been improved profusely. It not only helps in Chinese learning but is also proven the correct approach. In fact, more efforts are needed for better results. Likewise, in matter like Chinese primary schools’ development, more endeavour should be consolidated for gratifying results through the posting of teachers, appropriation, teaching and implementation of measures; and they need the coordination and concerted effort of School Inspector. Nonetheless, apart from being amenable towards the national education policy, Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools have their own operational characteristics and the existence of the Board of Directors is one of them. In fact, supervision from informed “School Inspector” is constantly sought on projects like “Charity Project”, nutritious meals and the dissemination of Chinese culture and values. That said, it is unwise to abolish these two posts or it can seriously affect the normal progress of Chinese education.

4. Dong Zong and Jiao zong reiterate, in the new administration structure of state Education Bureau, the preservation of the posts and status of “Chinese Primary Schools School Inspector” and “Chinese Subject Inspector” should be assured and a Division is expected to be established to handle all related affairs for the interests of Chinese primary schools and Secondary level Chinese subject in national schools. Due to the imminency and seriousness of the matter, Dong Zong and Jiao Zong had approached the Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching for a meeting to seek consensus and resolve the contentious matter for the advancement of Chinese education on this soil.