Dong Zong irked over ‘hotspot school’ list

DONG ZONG (United Chinese School Committees Association) wants the Education Ministry to explain why SM Hin Hua was included in a list of 402 schools identified as hotspots for disciplinary and drug problems, saying none of the 61 Chinese independent schools nationwide had serious cases of such issues.

Its president Datuk Vincent Lau Lee Ming said SM Hin Hua, located in Klang, is a reputable school and certainly does not have disciplinary problems among its students that were serious enough to warrant monitoring by the ministry and police, the Chinese press reported yesterday.

Speaking after attending a scholarship presentation ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, Lau also said there was no need for the authorities concerned to publicise the list.

Any disciplinary or drug problems among students should be resolved privately, he said, adding that naming the schools concerned will only affect their image and reputation.

“I don’t know the yardstick used by the Education Ministry to gauge schools (regarding discipline), but announcing the list does not do any good to any party.

“The ministry should study these issues in depth and identify the root causes to avoid a repeat of the problems,” he said.

Earlier, unhappy with its inclusion in the list of hotspots for disciplinary and drug problems, the school urged the ministry and police to visit the school to see the real situation for themselves.

Meanwhile, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Chong Sin Woon said SM Hin Hua was included in the list because it is located within an area known to be a crime hotspot.

It does not necessarily mean the school is facing serious disciplinary problems, he said.