The mediator in the dispute between the governors and the staff of Malaysia's oldest Chinese independent school has decided to quit because the squabble, according to him, has gone beyond his control.

Chow Siew Hon, who is also vice-chairperson of the Confucian Private Independent School's (Zunkong) board of governors, told the press today the crisis had deteriorated to an "uncontrollable stage".

Over the past few months, Zunkong's principal and teachers have been at loggerheads with the school's board of governors over allegations of interference in its administration.

The issue exploded into a crisis on July 19 when teachers and members of the Parent-Teacher Association walked out from a meeting after representatives of the school's board were said to have insulted them.

A week later, the outraged PTA passed a resolution at their annual meeting calling on the governors to apologise for hurting the pride of the teachers.

Move to fire principal

Chow conceded that a number of the school's governors have undertaken various measures to sack the principal, Goh Kean Seng.

"In view of the need for Zunkong's stability, I had, on my own initiative, been taking part in a lot of informal meetings within the school's executive committee to resolve the matter," he said.

Chow revealed that there was a squandered opportunity to settle the dispute early last month.

"I suggested the idea of restructuring the board of governors. No one would need to apologise or resign," he said.

He added he was asked by the board's chairperson, Lee Yam Hooi, to chair a meeting on Aug 14 in which the governors agreed to abide by the agreement he has proposed.

One of the conditions in Chow's proposal is that both parties would refrain from discussing the matter until a meeting on Oct 19.

However, Lee apparently broke the agreement by issuing a notice early this month for an emergency meeting of the board, which will take place tomorrow.

According to Chow, the calling of the emergency meeting had further divided the members of the board, and ruined the relationship between the governors and the school's staff.

Sit-in protest

Meanwhile, about 20 teachers will be staging a sit-in protest while the board's 14-member executive committee meets this evening.

"We hope to show them that we are watching their action," said Wong Chip Choo, a member of the Committee to Protect Teachers' Rights.

A barbecue, which is organised by the teachers and parents, is also being planned at the school tomorrow.

The 'barbecue' could turn into a protest against the governors should the executive committee propose to the board to sack the school's principal.

While the school's executive committee does not have the right to sack the principal, it can make recommendations to the 45-member board, which will be voted by the governors.