Statement Released by Dong Zong

June 29, 2018

Government Urged to Systemise and Sponsor the Construction of National-type Chinese Primary Schools

The Minister of Education Dr Maszlee’s recent pronouncement directed that the rest of the eight to-be-constructed national-type Chinese primary schools would be reviewed from the aspects of needs, financial situation and transparency besides the ongoing six relocation and two to-be-built schools. Herewith Dong Zong responds as follows:

1. Dong Zong realises that the selection criteria and principles of the location of the sixteen to-be-built or relocated national-type Chinese primary schools approved by the former Barisan Nasional government were inscrutable. In many high demand region, the endeavour for build- on is denied onto the list of the approved sixteen schools; surprisingly, the approved ones are located in the yet-to-be-developed new region and consequently we take it as not engaging education principle for urgency and needs. Moreover, the recommended locations for the sixteen to-be-built or relocated national-type Chinese primary schools were denounced. Indeed, the case of Lee Lai Sheng Chinese Primary School (Bandar Seri Coalfields, Ijok, Selangor) which is located next to a few national-type Chinese primary schools (for instance, Negeri Sembilan Kota Seriemas Primary School) cannot be free from the intent of electoral fraud.

2. We therefore urge the government to honour its promise set forth in the election manifesto while revising its Chinese primary school construction or relocation project and practice fair treatment towards other vernacular schools.

3. We reiterate, while coping with matter such as construction or relocation for vernacular schools, the government needs to be equal and fair, and always take educational needs into consideration and formulate relevant policy only well informed.
   
   We, Dong Zong, urge the government to apply the Standard Operation Procedure for the construction of national primary schools to other vernacular schools in construction projects and be responsible in funds and land lots. In addition, we also appeal the government to regulate in the matter of lot reserve for vernacular schools, that is, be attuned with demographical basis, population density and genuine needs to formulate the standard of construction and eventually incorporate this in the regulations of the relevant MOE’s divisions as well as the guidelines of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning for school planning. With all this in place, we are convinced, the construction of vernacular schools will be fruitful.