The Chinese community will risk becoming a “laughing stock” if differences in opinions from different groups regarding Chinese education issues is not resolved, leading to a referendum from the community itself, Gerakan warned today.

NONE Its central committee member Dr Dominic Lau (left) said in a statement today that when it comes to education for the community, the different goals of various organisations have caused a “split” in the Chinese community itself.

“While MCA claims they have the right in determining Chinese education, it is confusing for the community because they are not sure who they should listen to,” he said.

He said that if the situation continues, the community will find itself “unable to reflect” its real needs and plights to the government.

Lau said that in a recent meeting with Education Ministry officials over the ministry’s national education blueprint, he was asked by officers as to which side the government needed to listen to.

“I was asked - Chinese community issues should be decided by whom? Some Chinese demanded remove classes be removed, while there was another group that wanted to retain it,” he said.

Lau said that he was left “dumbstruck” by the question and was unable to answer.

Lau also claimed that “organisations” who are now moving to champion Chinese education issues are coming through with a “hidden agenda” to replace Dong Jiao Zong, the Chinese education group, while noting that Dong Zong and Jiao Zong, despite having the same goals, were moving in different directions.

“This virtually will exaggerate the split among the Chinese community and further blur the focus points,” he said.