Sabah Dong Zong committees installed
KOTA KINABALU: Equal emphasis on Chinese, Malay and the English language as well as the dual-track education system comprising the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) and Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) adopted by Chinese independent secondary schools in Sabah have undeniably provided a boost to the students’ competitiveness in university enrollment and employment prospects.
Minister of Special Tasks, Datuk Teo Chee Kang, said The United Association of Private Chinese Secondary School Committees Sabah (Sabah Dong Zong) has been emphasizing on the teaching and learning of Chinese, Malay and English language and dual-track education system in Chinese independent secondary schools since the inception of the association in 1979.
He said this approach has enabled Chinese independent secondary school students to overcome challenges and enhanced their competitiveness as they enter universities or the workforce.
Teo said this when gracing the installation ceremony of the 19th Dong Zong Committee, 17th Sabah Chinese Primary School Working Committee and 12th Sabah Chinese Headmasters Activities Committee here on Sunday.
On another note, Teo said, the State government has been providing allocations to non-Islamic religious bodies and vernacular schools, including the nine Chinese independent secondary schools, Chinese primary schools, mission schools and nationaltype secondary schools in Sabah since the 1980s, and added that the amount of allocation to these schools has also been increased annually.
“Last year, the State government allocated over RM31 million, including RM3.15 million to the nine Chinese independent secondary schools.”
He added that the RM3.15 million was inclusive of RM250,000 fixed allocation to each of the Chinese independent secondary schools.
“The State government has included this allocation into the annual budget,” he said.
Teo said, the move not only reflected the importance of nonIslamic religious bodies and learning institutions to the Barisan Nasional (BN) state government, but was also aligned with the 1Malaysia concept that embraced the spirit of moderation to ensure no Chinese associations or educational organizations were marginalized. Also present were assistant minister to the Chief Minister, Datuk Edward Yong Oui Fah, and Datin Mary Wong, Sabah Dong Zong life honorary chairman, Tan Sri Andrew Liew Sui Fatt, The United Chinese School Committees’ Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong), Temenggong Datuk Vincent Lau Lee Ming, Sustainable Energy Development Authority Malaysia (SEDA) chairman, Datuk Dr. Yee Moh Chai, Acting Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu, Zhang He, Batu Sapi member of parliament, Linda Tsen, Sabah Dong Zong honorary advisors, Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee, Tan Sri Joseph Lo, Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. T.C. Goh, Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen and Datuk Paul Lim.