The outgoing chairperson of the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia (UCSCAM or Dong Zong) Quek Suan Hiang has urged Chinese educationists to strengthen their grassroots support in their struggle to preserve mother tongue education in Malaysia.

He pointed out that mass support from the people was important, adding that those Chinese educationists out of touch with the grassroots are not fit to lead the mother-tongue education movement.

Declaring that the Chinese education movement in Malaysia is a grassroots movement, Quek said that if it has lost touch with the people, then the movement will collapse and die just like a fish out of water.

Quek's remarks at the Dong Jong committee meeting on Sunday was widely carried by the Chinese dailies.

Referring to the marginalisation of the Chinese education movement after it was openly branded as "chauvinist" by former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mahamad during the Suqiu controversy in 2000, Quek said it was most unfortunate that a number of Chinese guilds and associations tried to distance themselves from the influential Chinese education movement due to heavy political pressure soon after the incident.

He, however, noted that after active persuasion and re-engagement strategy pursued by Dong Zong, the relationship has improved.

Chairing last meeting

Dong Zong and Jiao Zong (United Chinese School Teachers' Association) or better known as Dong Jiao Zong, has been in the forefront of the civil rights and mother-tongue education rights movement since the 80s.

However Dong Jiao Zong backed down from the Suqiu election demands just after the 1999 general election following a threat from Umno Youth. That signalled the waning of its influence and standing among the Chinese community. Also, the MCA began to exert its influence among the Chinese guilds and associations.

Quek, who is stepping down as Dong Jong chairperson later this year, addressed the 2005 UCSCAM central committee on Sunday for the last time as its leader.

The 75-year-old Quek who hailed from Kluang, Johor is one of the longest serving leaders of the Chinese education movement. He holds a bachelor of Political Science from the Peking University in Beijing.

Hurdles to cross

On the future of the Chinese education movement in Malaysia, Quek said that it looks bright although it will continue to face many hurdles.

Globalisation will show that English and Mandarin will become equally important in the 21st century, he reasoned, adding that the waves of democratisation, liberalisation and multi-culturalism will eventually prevail against narrow nationalism and monolistic-culturalism.

Quek also pointed to the phenomenon where many Malay and Indian parents are sending their children to Chinese primary schools to learn Mandarin.

"Such a phenomenon is definitely a good thing as it will help to improve the state of multiculturalism in our country."

The Dong Zong leader also revealed that several names have been shortlisted to replace Dr Kua Kia Soong as the principal of New Era College.

According to Quek, Kua has indicated his desire to return to the academic world and will undertake social research in the United Kingdom. Kua was one of the founders of New Era, the non-profit community-based college which opened its doors in 1997.