Chinese education NGO Dong Zong has been irresponsible in holding a rally in Kuala Lumpur, said Deputy Education Minister Puad Zarkashi.

Puad said the ministry had provided ample assistance and allocations to both vernacular and national schools.

Dr Puad Zarkashi “I can say that they are irresponsible. We have done many things to help vernacular schools, but they still want to make demands.

“On the shortage of allocations and teachers, we have solved that. The same can be said for J-Qaf (Islamic fundamental education) teachers,” Puad ( right ) told Malaysiakini .

He said Dong Zong's “inconsiderate” move showed that the NGO did not believe in “talking things out”.

He also said Dong Zong could not accept the fact that the ministry was already working to solve the problems raised.

“My view is that Dong Zong is inconsiderate. The issue regarding Chinese-type schools can be overcome. We agreed with their eight demands, so I don't know why they are harping on this.

“They are inconsiderate...The fact is, we even assist independent Chinese schools,” Puad said after visiting a Tamil school in Sentul today.

'MCA can solve their woes'

However, fellow Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong defended the right of the influential Chinese education coalition to submit the memorandum.

"In a democratic society, anyone can submit a memorandum and we will," Wee stressed when met by reporters in Parliament House today.

NONE Meanwhile, Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai played down the Dong Zong requests as something that was already being looked into by BN's Chinese component party.

"There's nothing new. MCA can solve their requests and we will (do so)."

Some 1,000 people protested outside Parliament yesterday to voice their disgruntlement with the government’s discriminatory policies in relation to Chinese education.

The rally, dubbed '926 Save Chinese Education Protest Action', was organised by Dong Zong and held at Padang Merbok, which is about 1km from the Parliament building.