Guilds to discuss call by 25 Malays

Found in Translation logo 2014

CHINESE guilds and associations will be meeting to discuss the call made by the 25 prominent Malays for the Government to start a rational dialogue on the position of Islam in the country’s constitutional democracy.

Sin Chew Daily reported that the meeting, which would be held soon, was organised by the Federation of Chinese Associations of Malaysia (Hua Zong).

“This is a very important issue,” said its president Tan Sri Pheng Yin Huah. “Let us work together for a better future for our country.”

Pheng also praised the Johor Baru Tiong Hua Federation and the five main clan associations in the state for initiating the “Counter Extremism and Support Moderation” petition, which will see a memorandum with signatures presented to the Prime Minister.

Federation president Datuk Seri Tey Kim Chai said the campaign aimed to collect at least 100 signatures from various groups.

Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall and similar bodies in other states had also expressed their support.

The Federation of Alumni Associations of Taiwan Univer­sities urged both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat to look into the call made by the 25.

In a statement, it said it was time political leaders “did the right thing”, and not tolerate extreme groups for their own short-term political gains.

> Nanyang Siang Pau reported Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Foo Chow Association chairman Doo Tai King as suggesting that Chinese guilds should look into the possibility of calling for a meeting to decide on the future of SM Chong Hwa Kuantan.

Since some of the leaders in Chinese education group Dong Zong were concerned over SM Chong Hwa students sitting for the United Examination Certificate (UEC), Doo said the guilds should discuss and decide on the matter.

“The Chinese community would then have to bear the consequences of whatever decision it takes on this issue,” he said.

The Dong Zong leadership had been split on this issue with the students left in the lurch.

?  Found in Translation is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with this ' >'sign, it denotes a separate news item.