The Federation of Chinese School Headmasters (FCSH) pulled out of a meeting with Dong Jiao Zong (DJZ) at the last minute yesterday afternoon after some 50 'uninvited guests' held a demonstration in a hotel lobby.

Prior to the noisy but peaceful demonstration, the group gathered at the hotel lobby for an impromptu press conference where they demanded the FCSH for an explanation over the corruption allegations .

They also called for the FCSH to be dissolved and assured that the fight against corrupt school principles would continue.

The FCSH/DJZ meeting to discuss school canteen issues was scheduled for 2pm in a hotel at Kajang. The demonstrators were seen brandishing posters and chanting slogans targeting 'corrupt school pricipals'.

Twenty-six representatives from Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees Association) and Jiao Zong (United Chinese School Teachers Association) were present for the botched meet. Dong Jiao Zong is the collective name for both groups.

Chinese school committee bill

Dong Zong chairperson Dr Yap Sin Tian expressed regret over the absence of FCSH during a press conference at around 2.45pm at the meeting venue.

Yap reiterated the organisation's stand that Education Act of 1957, 1961 and 1996 in recognition of the authority and legitimacy of Chinese school committee over the school properties including canteen, bookstore, school hall and bank account.

He urged the Education Ministry to announce the Chinese school committee bill and allowed it to be discussed by Chinese education organisations.

While the committee has traditionally been responsible for looking after the school property and running the canteen, school principals are slowly taking over such responsibilities as there are no clear guidelines from the ministry.

Some principals had allegedly abused their authority over school properties for personal gain, according to several parents participating in the demonstration.

Allegations of corrupt school principals initially surfaced during a talk-show in early February, followed by newspaper advertisements which offered RM500,000 reward for those who could show proof of corrupt principals.

Later, parents and school committee members began to question the alleged payment of commission by book sellers to school principals and misappropriation of fees collected from computer literacy classes.

In response, FCSH hit back by accusing Dong Zong of oppressing principals in order to regain authority over the awarding of canteen tenders.

While observers noted that this was an attempt by FCSH to divert attention from the corruption allegations, both parties agreed to work out their difference at the meeting yesterday.

Principals defamed

After abstaining from the meeting, FCSH held another press conference in Kuala Lumpur at around 6pm yesterday to respond to allegations of corruption.

FCSH chairman Kang Siew Koon disputed the claim by Petaling Chinese Primary Schools Parents' Association which accused corrupt principal had pocketed RM150 million in commissions from suppliers.

He clarified that tuition and computer literacy class fees was collected by the parent-teacher association and schools committee in all schools.

The fees collected to buy textbooks and workbooks are then banked into the school's account which was audited by the ministry annually and this practice is clearly stated by the financial management guideline by the ministry, he added.

"The accusation and advertisement had defamed all 1228 Chinese school principals. We are now wanted criminals, this is not fair to us," said the angry principal.

He claimed that the matter had tarnished the image of Chinese schools and further aggravated the problems faced by Chinese education.

Why they left the meeting

Kang also disclosed a letter sent to Yap by FCSH demanding Yap to declare that the latter did not premeditate the demonstration at the meeting venue.

"FCSH will not have any meeting with those involved in the matter (demonstration) before any clarification is made from you (Yap)," stated the letter.

The federation also regretted a "defamatory news report" published by New Straits Times and Oriental Daily News yesterday which Yap described as "humiliating".

"With the demonstration, the meeting would not be carried out in a peaceful manner, this is why we refused to attend the meeting," Kang told reporters.

"This (Bock's statement) shows they (Dong Zong) are not sincere in wanting to meet us," he added.

Kang said the federation would take action against those who defame his organisation.