Perak Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees Association) chairperson Dr Chong Fah's decision to contest for a central committee post in the MCA polls next month did not go down well with his peers in the state.

Chong, 65, is currently Perak MCA assistant secretary and Kapar division vice-chairperson. He was a one-term MCA state assemblyperson for Kuala Tepang. He lost the Keranji state seat in the 2004 election to DAP's Chen Fook Chye.

After he narrowly won the Perak Dong Zong chairmanship last month through the toss of a coin, Chong shocked Chinese educationists by announcing his intention to contest in the party election in order to "raise Chinese education issues within the MCA".

He later appointed MCA Tronah state assemblyperson Lee Kon Yin to head the secondary school development committee of Perak Dong Zong. The appointment irked Chinese educationists in the state who accused Chong of infiltrating the independent education group with party politics.

Columnist Phoon Wing Keong wrote in the Oriental Daily News yesterday that Chong "is too involved in MCA politics". The article also alleged that Chong's decision to appoint Lee was "an effort to use Perak Dong Zong as a springboard for his own political interest" .

Influential veteran educationist Leong Wan Chin, who is also board chairperson for Yuk Choy Independent Secondary School and SM Perak Girl School in Ipoh, criticised Chong for appointing an active politician into the education group and disapproved of his decision to contest in the MCA polls.

MCA's infiltration

"It is the duty of Chinese educationists to act above the interests of party politics. It seems that Chong has injected MCA politics into Chinese education and this is an unhealthy development" she pointed out.

Another educationist Ong Swee Kok said that although members could subscribe to their own political beliefs, they should leave their political ideology out of the education movement.

He cited the example of former Dong Zong chairperson, the late Lim Fong Seng, who resigned from his post to join DAP during the 1990 general election.

"Previously, Chong said that he would retire from politics but now he is doing the opposite. This is not right," Ong said.

Mak Xiang, another state veteran educationist, also regarded Chong's decision as a bad precedent as it would open the door for MCA to infiltrate into the Chinese education movement.

He said that was something the movement has fought against as Chinese education groups and MCA have always been on the opposite sides in educational issues.

Too sensitive

Asked to comment at the brickbats against him, Chong defended his decision to contest.

"I have already made clear that the decision to contest is my own. It has nothing to do with the Perak Dong Zong. Wasn't Jiao Zong (United Chinese School Teachers Association) vice-president Loot Ting Yee also known to be campaigning for DAP in the elections?," he asked.

Chong claimed that his case has been blown out of proportion by the Chinese media.

"Contesting in a party election is a normal process, so why be so sensitive about it? Many Dong Zong members also have political background".

On the appointment of a MCA state assemblyperson to head a Perak Dong Zong committee, Chong explained that "Lee is the best person for the job since he is the board chairperson for three Chinese primary schools in Papan, Perak"

He also claimed that Lee was appointed by the state committee and not by him alone.

Chong added that he would stick by his decision and would not bow to pressure from any quarter.