DATUK PAUL LOW SENG KUAN, 67 who was made Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department dismissed the claim that he is a Chinese representative, while Mary Yap Kain Ching from PBS, the new Deputy Education and Higher Education Minister I, said she is willing to sit down and discuss the education issues with Dong Zong, the Chinese press reported.
After the new cabinet was announced on Wednesday, it was widely highlighted in the Chinese newspapers that Transparency International Malaysia president Low and Yap were the only two Chinese representatives in the new cabinet as MCA and Gerakan refused cabinet positions following their poor showing in the 13th general election.
Low dismissed the claim that he is a Chinese representative in the Oriental Daily News, in which he said: "I’m not the Chinese representative in the cabinet. I’m not appointed because there’s no MCA minister, instead I’m appointed because Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak believes I can assist in his administration.”
Low emphasised that his main role was to boost the anti-corruption and integrity agenda while acting as a bridge between the government and the people, the daily highlighted today.
Meanwhile, Yap told Sin Chew Daily that she is willing to meet Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees Association) and other Chinese education groups to discuss the education issues rationally, in a friendly atmosphere.
However, she reminded the Chinese educationists that they must present all the data and materials instead of attacking each other in discussions, the daily quoted her in its headlines today.
Yap, who is English educated, conceded that she did not understand Mandarin. However, she said was born into a traditional Chinese family and was cultivated with its culture so she understands how important education is to the Chinese community.
"I don’t have a Chinese education background but I didn’t have a choice then. But I chose to let my three children experience a Chinese-based education, my four grandchildren also studied or are studying in Chinese schools,” said the retired headmistress-cum-Tawau MP who joined Barisan Nasional just five months ago under the invitation of Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman.
Dong Zong has little hope of improvements
Meanwhile Dong Zong is pessimistic about the future of Chinese education under the Najib’s new administration.
Dong Zong chairman Yap Sin Tian said, he does not have much hope in the new cabinet in solving the Chinese education issues as the Education Act remained unchanged, Oriental Daily News reported.
On the appointment of Mary Yap, Yap commented, as long as the education policy remains status quo, the act of appointing a Chinese deputy minister does not help in solving the problems facing by Chinese education.
He pointed out that previous Chinese ministers and deputy ministers also promised to bring up the Chinese education issues in the cabinet but still there was not much improvements in the education policy.
“Only some minor problems were solved but it is not what the people and the Chinese want,” said the Chinese educationist who fought for recognition of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) of the Chinese independent schools before general election.
Yap believed that future struggles of Chinese education will be harder than before as prolonged issues such as the lack of Chinese school teachers, establishment of Chinese independent schools and the UEC recognition has yet to be solved.
He also predicted that more conflicts will arise after this.
