theSun | TUESDAY JUNE 9 2009
news without borders
We’ve not been
‘bought over’
DONG ZONG CHIEF DENIES ALLEGATIONS
DONG ZONG (United Chinese
School Committees Association)
president Dr Yap Sin Tian, who is
set to retain his post in the educa-
tion movement, has refuted claims
that it has been “bought over” by a
certain political party.
Without naming names, he said
a small group of people was trying
to bring its own political agenda
into the movement.
The group attempted to twist
Beijing varsity to set up branch campus here
MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee
Keat said Malaysia will likely get to
set up the first branch campus of a
Chinese institution of higher learning,
China Press reported yesterday.
He said Beijing Foreign Studies
University had signed a letter of
intent with a public-listed company
in Johor to set up its branch campus
facts, indulged in personal attacks,
fabricated stories and created ru-
mours, he said.
He described as “childish” the
group’s claim that Dong Zong is
supporting a certain political party
simply because the movement has
contacts with the party, Oriental
Daily news reported yesterday.
He clarified that Dong Zong has
approached the party to fight for,
protect and develop Chinese edu-
in Malaysia.
He expressed optimism that more
Chinese universities will set up branch
campuses in Malaysia after Beijing
Foreign Studies University.
Ong told reporters this after attend-
ing Penang MCA’s 60th anniversary
celebrations on Sunday.
Asked about the long-talked-about
Press Digest
by Kong See Hoh
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
cation and not because it has been
“bought over” as alleged.
“Dong Zong’s stand is to seek
their (political parties’) help to pro-
tect and develop Chinese education
but will definitely not serve their
political agenda.”
Speaking at Dong Zong’s annual
general meeting and election of
committee members in Kajang on
Sunday, Yap reiterated the move-
ment is “above political parties but
not above politics”.
He said Dong Zong will stay
steadfast to its objectives and
principles, and practise collective
leadership and democracy.
“But Dong Zong has never been
and will never be tied up with any
political party.”
He said those who are in Dong
Zong can be from any political
government recognition of more
China degrees, which has yet to
materialise, Ong said this is because
the two countries hold different views
on mutual recognition of professional
degrees.
He said China wants blanket rec-
ognition for degrees offered by all its
universities whereas Malaysia wants
party or without any political back-
ground.
“But the crux is that those who
are involved in Chinese education
should never bring their political
agenda into the Chinese education
group,” he said.
Despite being challenged
earlier at the state-level election
in the wake of the divisive New
Era College incident, Yap looks
unshakeable in his position follow-
ing Sunday’s election of committee
members.
For the first time, Malacca
Dong Lian Hui, which had earlier
called for Yap’s resignation, has
been voted out of the committee in
favour of Pahang.
All other incumbent Dong Lian
Hui retained their seat. They are
from Selangor and Kuala Lumpur,
Penang, Johor, Perak and Kedah.
The committee members will
elect the Dong Zong chief at a later
date and are expected to return Yap
– so far the only one to stake to the
post.
to start off with certain degrees of-
fered by certain universities.
He said it is up to the Higher Educa-
tion Ministry to overcome such differ-
ences with it Chinese counterparts.
He said he had done the ground-
work while he was the deputy higher
education minister but now more
needs to be done.
7
briefs
Malaysia to host ITF
conference for first time
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will for the
first time host the International Transport
Workers Federation (ITF) conference to
discuss climate change and transport as
well as the global economic crisis and
strengthening of unions.
The Malaysian chapter of the ITF has
laid out an elaborate programme for the
400 participants from 50 countries at-
tending the conference on June 16-18.
Its council secretary Datuk Zainal
Rampak said yesterday that Prime Min-
ister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak had
been invited to open the conference.
– Bernama
Sarawak allows female
Syariah judges
MIRI: The door is always open to Mus-
lim women to become Syariah judges
in Sarawak so long as they have the
qualifications, Assistant Minister in
the Chief Minister’s Office Datuk Daud
Abdul Rahman said yesterday.
Daud, who is in charge of Islamic
affairs, said that although all judges in
Syariah courts statewide were men,
the women were never sidelined.
In fact, he said, more women in
Sarawak had been appointed to key
posts and many were also MPs or
state assemblymen. – Bernama