After leading the prominent Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees Association ) movement for 12 years, its president Quek Suan Hiang bade farewell yesterday.

In an emotionally-charged ceremony at the Dong Jiao Zong Higher Learning Centre in Kajang, Quek shared his thoughts and experiences with the audience.

(Dong Jiao Zong is the collective name for United Chinese School Teachers Association and United Chinese School Committees Association.)

In a pre-recorded interview, his wife and son revealed how Quek's involvement with the movement had consumed much of his time.

They even recalled one of his birthday celebrations being called off at the eleventh hour due to an issue related with the movement.

Quek, 75, broke into tears upon hearing this.

"This is the problem that every Chinese educationist must deal with. I was forced to do so under the circumstances, he said to a thunderous applause.

Quek said the most critical moments during his leadership were the Suqiu (Malaysian Chinese Organisation Elections Appeal Committee) controversy in 1999 and the more recent language switch policy.

Fearless leader

Suqiu, headed by Quek, had earned the wrath of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who branded it an extremist set-up.

Recalling the episode, Quek's wife Leung Lai Ming said she was inundated with phone calls from friends and family members who were concerned that the government would initiate an arrest.

She said she packed her husband's clothes and high-blood pressure medication in preparation for any eventuality.

Despite this, she said Quek told her that the movement's past presidents had been arrested before and hence there was no reason for him to be afraid.

"After the fall of Malay votes in the 1999 general election, Umno needed to find an imaginary opponent to unify the Malays and Suqiu became the victim," said Quek.

Another round of talk concerning his arrest arose after Dong Jiao Zong published a booklet entitled The Last Defence which protested the language switch.

The government had, amid strong protest from Chinese educationists, introduced a new policy to teach Science and Mathematics in English in all schools.

According to Quek, police special branch officers had raided his office and investigated the booklet's editor.

"I could not sleep well for the whole month. The noise of vehicles passing my house at night worried me, I was wondering if the police had come to arrest me," he said.

"Luckily I was trained to overcome this kind of pressure, he added to another round of applause from the 300-odd audience, including visitors from abroad.

Help others

On the family side, his wife said the two of them have an agreement over the past 40 years - he handles the movement and she, the family and business.

His family also expressed doubt that Quek will be able to retire totally, to which he agreed.

"I believe that in order to lead a meaningful life, we should commit ourselves to helping others and contribute to society," he said.

Meanwhile, Leung described her husband as "upright, sincere, optimistic and possessed a strong sense of mission".

When asked what she would get him as a retirement present, she had the crowd in stitches by replying "he should give me a present".

However, she expressed hope that Quek would now be able to spend more time with the family.

Also present at the function was MCA presidential candidate Chua Jui Meng.