An opposition parliamentarian today urged MCA leaders to take the necessary measures to remove obstacles that dampen the operation of Chinese language societies in local universities.
In a press statement yesterday, DAP member of Parliament for Batu Gajah Fong Po Kuan said these societies are facing many problems in organising activities.
"MCA ministers and deputy ministers should be the ones to eliminate this problem and the unfair treatment meted out on these societies but they do not do this," she said.
She added that the Chinese Language Society in the MCA-run Tunku Abdul Rahman (TAR) College also faced similar problems.
On Monday, malaysiakini reported that the society in the college's Kuala Lumpur campus was prohibited from holding any activities for 11 months since the society's annual general meeting last year.
The society's chairperson and other committee members, elected at the AGM, were also not 'recognised' by the college.
The college said the prohibition was imposed because the society had violated procedures.
It was claimed that the society did not meet the quorum during the AGM and that it also solicited money from its members through various activities.
Commenting on this, Fong said the college must be more cooperative and adopt a more friendly attitude towards students.
"If the claims above were the catalyst for the college to make things difficult for the society, then the college's attitude is unreasonable, unprofessional and not student-friendly," she added.
"DAP urges MCA leaders to show their concern in this issue," she stressed.
Freedom violated
In a related development, several student organisations expressed support for the TAR College Chinese Language Society and criticised the prohibition.
Among the organisations were Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Chinese Students Association, New Era College (NEC) Media Studies Society, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)Chinese Language Society, USM Students Progressive Front and Malaysia Youth and Students Democratic Movement (DEMA).
In separate statements yesterday, the organisations slated the college administration for violating the students' freedom of association and expression.
Meanwhile, TAR College Chinese language society president Teo Shee Juan urged the college administration not to mislead the public on the issue.
"We hope the college can look into the real cause of the issue. We have tried for 11 months to solve this problem through the proper channel," he said yesterday.
