Chinese education movement Dong Jiao Zong said today that it may take legal action against those who have branded it as being extremist and chauvinistic for its opposition to the language switch.

Among the first to go on an offensive against the influential movement, was Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Dong Jiao Zong is the collective name, for the United Chinese School Committees' Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) and United Chinese School Teachers' Association of Malaysia (Jiao Zong).

Dong Zong's chief executive officer Bock Tai Hee said the movement's legal advisor is studying the matter.

"Our lawyer is compiling the related information. We will continue to monitor media reports and will initiate defamation suits against those who called us extremist and chauvinist" he said when met at the movement's office in Kajang.

Dong Jiao Zong came under the crosshair of government leaders, and the media for its vocal opposition to the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English.

Apart from branding them as extremists, Mahathir had also warned the movement's leaders "not to play with fire".

ISA, Sedition Act threats

Also joining in the fray, were Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr Rais Yatim who threatened to use the Internal Security Act and Sedition Act against the language switch's opponents.

The latest onslaught came from the freshly appointed Deputy Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin who stressed yesterday that Dong Jiao Zong and opposition party DAP are extremists and chauvinists who must be eradicated.

Last week, the education movement sent a protest letter to Malay dailies Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian for their controversial frontpage headings.

Utusan 's headline read 'Chinese chauvinists reject new formula' while Berita Harian said, 'Two Chinese NGOs object'.

These were published a day after Dong Zong and Jiao Zong met to discuss the issue.

Meanwhile, the state-run Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) has also recently started airing a multi-part, five-minute segment entitled Bahaya Cauvinisme (Dangers of chauvinism) during prime-time news on its two channels.

Two-hour dialogue

Earlier, a delegation comprising more than 60 Malay and Chinese university students held a two-hour dialogue with Dong Jiao Zong regarding the language switch.

The students, from eight universities nationwide, expressed support for the movement's stand on the matter.

They also relayed their concern on how the issue is being turned into a racial one by the media which creates the impression that only Chinese Malaysians are against the switch.

"What about the 36 non-governmental organisations that voiced their opposition during their meeting with the deputy premier on Aug 24? The Malay mainstream media has stirred racial sentiments and has attacked Dong Jiao Zong. This development has worried us," said a spokesperson for the students, Ng Chong Soon.

Ng is a fresh graduate from Tunku Abdul Rahman College (Tarc) and also Malaysia Youth and Students Democratic Movement (Dema) secretary for national affairs.

Meanwhile, the students also stated a four-point appeal regarding the language switch.

They are urging that the policy, which will come into effect next year, be retracted. And to stop all racist remarks and to respect people's opinion, without resorting to threats.

The students also suggested that an education system reformation committee comprising educationist, NGOs, ruling and opposition parties be set up to re-study the language policy.

Ng also told reporters that a national students alliance to oppose the move is expected to be established early next month.

"We have launched our roadshows in each campus and lobbying them to participate in the alliance without considering their background, race and religion.

Previously, the delegation held a talk at Tarc and will hold another in Terengganu's Kolej Universiti Sains dan Teknologi Malaysia (Kustem) tomorrow.

Media blackout

Several Malay Malaysian student leaders who spoke at the dialogue said they regretted that the Malay community's opposition to the switch has been totally blacked out by the Malay mainstream media.

Bock later told the students that he was happy with the dialogue.

"Undergraduates and youths should be encouraged to be brave enough to tell the government that they have committed a mistake. This younger generation give us hopes," he said.

Also present at the dialogue were Jiao Zong vice president Loot Ting Yee and New Era College (NEC) principal Dr Kua Kia Soong.