MCA deputy minister flayed for giving don the third degree
Ng Boon HooiPublished: Mar 7, 2001 11:45 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
Deputy Education Minister Hon Choon Kim should explain why his party, the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), is using the Education Ministry to victimise a university lecturer for giving support to the controversy-roiled SJK (C) Damansara school.
DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang said Hon and MCA leaders should not abuse their powers by influencing the Education Ministry to harass Universiti Malaya's associate professor Chia Oai Peng for speaking out.
Malaysiakini reported on Monday that Chia, of the Literature and Social Science Faculty, received a show-cause letter from the university's vice-chancellor Prof Dr Anuar Zaini Md Zain, asking her to explain her e-mail postings on the Damansara Chinese school issue in a discussion group last month. ([#1]Lecturer asked to show cause for Internet postings[/#], March 5)
In the Feb 6 letter, Anuar said that he was informed by the education minister's special officer that Chia had sent a number of Internet postings in support of retaining the 70-year-old Chinese school, and thus violated the university's rules.
He added that Chia has used her university's e-mail account to send the messages, which are based on inaccurate facts and allegations.
According to the Statutory Bodies Act 2000 (Disciplinary and Surcharge) (Akta Badan-badan Berkanun 2000, Tatatertib dan Surcaj), Regulation 18 (1), a university officer cannot make public statements, whether oral or written, that criticise government policies without written approval from the education minister.
In addition, an officer cannot make any public statements that can bring embarrassment to the government.
According to Anuar, Chia's statements have touched on government policies, hence they can be regarded to have violated the regulation mentioned.
Barred from telling the truth?
However, DAP's Lim disagreed that Chia had committed any misconduct, and asked whether there is a new university rule barring lecturers from telling the truth, even if it could embarrass the government.
"Has speaking the truth become an offence or even a 'crime' in Malaysia justifying disciplinary action by the local universities against university lecturers? Is there a new university rule that lecturers are barred from telling the truth if it could embarrass the government?" he asked.
Lim called on Hon to immediately stop the victimisation and harassment of Chia by getting the university authorities to withdraw the directive for the show-cause letter.
Otherwise, he said, MCA cabinet members will bring international shame to the country's universities as Malaysia will gain notoriety in the world academia as a country where university lecturers cannot tell the truth merely to avoid embarrassing the government.
School hijacked
In January, students at SJK (C) Damansara were directed by the Education Ministry to temporarily transfer to SJK (C) Puay Chai (II) - a few kilometres away - while awaiting the completion of the new building in Tropicana.
The authorities have been unable to provide a clear explanation as to what would happen to the historic school and its abandoned site. The majority of the students have moved to Puay Chai (II) but 74 have stayed put and are continuing their classes at a neighbourhood temple.
Chia, who is a former member of the Parent-Teacher Association of the Damansara school, had earlier told malaysiakini that the postings referred to in the show-cause letter were made to correct some erroneous information on the issue.
According to Chia, the Damansara school was initially slated to move to Bandar Utama, which is closer to the old site. However, that plan was 'hijacked' by a number of influential individuals, who turned the allocated Bandar Utama school to Puay Chai, and renamed it Puay Chai (II).
DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang said Hon and MCA leaders should not abuse their powers by influencing the Education Ministry to harass Universiti Malaya's associate professor Chia Oai Peng for speaking out.
Malaysiakini reported on Monday that Chia, of the Literature and Social Science Faculty, received a show-cause letter from the university's vice-chancellor Prof Dr Anuar Zaini Md Zain, asking her to explain her e-mail postings on the Damansara Chinese school issue in a discussion group last month. ([#1]Lecturer asked to show cause for Internet postings[/#], March 5)
In the Feb 6 letter, Anuar said that he was informed by the education minister's special officer that Chia had sent a number of Internet postings in support of retaining the 70-year-old Chinese school, and thus violated the university's rules.
He added that Chia has used her university's e-mail account to send the messages, which are based on inaccurate facts and allegations.
According to the Statutory Bodies Act 2000 (Disciplinary and Surcharge) (Akta Badan-badan Berkanun 2000, Tatatertib dan Surcaj), Regulation 18 (1), a university officer cannot make public statements, whether oral or written, that criticise government policies without written approval from the education minister.
In addition, an officer cannot make any public statements that can bring embarrassment to the government.
According to Anuar, Chia's statements have touched on government policies, hence they can be regarded to have violated the regulation mentioned.
Barred from telling the truth?
However, DAP's Lim disagreed that Chia had committed any misconduct, and asked whether there is a new university rule barring lecturers from telling the truth, even if it could embarrass the government.
"Has speaking the truth become an offence or even a 'crime' in Malaysia justifying disciplinary action by the local universities against university lecturers? Is there a new university rule that lecturers are barred from telling the truth if it could embarrass the government?" he asked.
Lim called on Hon to immediately stop the victimisation and harassment of Chia by getting the university authorities to withdraw the directive for the show-cause letter.
Otherwise, he said, MCA cabinet members will bring international shame to the country's universities as Malaysia will gain notoriety in the world academia as a country where university lecturers cannot tell the truth merely to avoid embarrassing the government.
School hijacked
In January, students at SJK (C) Damansara were directed by the Education Ministry to temporarily transfer to SJK (C) Puay Chai (II) - a few kilometres away - while awaiting the completion of the new building in Tropicana.
The authorities have been unable to provide a clear explanation as to what would happen to the historic school and its abandoned site. The majority of the students have moved to Puay Chai (II) but 74 have stayed put and are continuing their classes at a neighbourhood temple.
Chia, who is a former member of the Parent-Teacher Association of the Damansara school, had earlier told malaysiakini that the postings referred to in the show-cause letter were made to correct some erroneous information on the issue.
According to Chia, the Damansara school was initially slated to move to Bandar Utama, which is closer to the old site. However, that plan was 'hijacked' by a number of influential individuals, who turned the allocated Bandar Utama school to Puay Chai, and renamed it Puay Chai (II).
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