Prominent Chinese education movement Dong Jiao Zong (DJZ) hoped that newly-minted Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will address some of the "unresolved" issues left by his predecessor, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, involving the country's vernacular education.

The influential organisation which comprises two bodies - the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) and United Chinese School Teachers Association of Malaysia (Jiao Zong) - is currently completing a memorandum to be submitted to Abdullah.

Contacted today, Dong Zong president Quek Suan Hiang said the group is sending an official letter to Abdullah today to request for a meeting with the new prime minister.

He said that the organisation was heeding the new premier's advise that Malaysians should tell him the ' truth ' about the situation in the country.

"New premier means new leadership. We hope he (Abdulllah) would able to take action to address the existing unresolved Chinese education problems," added Quek.

However Quek declined to elaborate when pressed further on the likely agenda for the meeting.

Language-switch policy

Malaysiakini

learnt that the group will touch on, among others, the controversial government's policy in introducing the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English language from January this year.

It is also learnt that one of the core campaign of DJZ next year is to whip up support in the bid to reverse the language-switch policy.

A working team has been established and it is compiling facts and figures concerning the impact of the policy.

A source said studies carried out since early this year in Chinese primary schools nationwide have found that academic standards are eroding due to the 'easier' syllabuses introduced in the two subjects, while teachers are often absent in classes because they have to attend special training courses.

DJZ has been vocal in opposing the policy, in which the organisation was once labeled by ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad as "extremist" and "chauvinistic", while Abdullah himself had threatened to invoke the Internal Security Act and Sedition Act against the language-switch opponents.

Others issues that are expected to be raised by DJZ include the protracted shortage of Chinese schools and teachers, the vision schools, and the need to build more vernacular schools.

Dialogue with students

Meanwhile, student sources told malaysiakini that Abdullah's newly-appointed Chinese aide Dr Vincent Lim - a former senior analyst with the Institute of Strategic and International Studies - has invited Chinese student leaders from local varsities for a dialogue session with him.

The date and venue of the dialogue has yet to be fixed but it is expected to be held early next month.

According to a source who requested anonymity, Lim hoped that the session could help enhance the government's understanding regarding the problems faced by Chinese undergraduates.

Sources also said that Lim had promised to bring up some of these issues to the premier's attention.

Asked why only Chinese student leaders are invited, a source said Lim is Abdullah's assistant specialising in Chinese community issues.

Previously, Mahathir's Chinese aide Mathias Chang had also organised dialogue sessions for the ex-premier with Chinese entrepreneurs.

Mahathir pioneered the idea of appointing two special Chinese aides - a political secretary and a press secretary - to enable the Chinese community to deliver their views directly to the prime minister.