A disappointed member of the United Chinese School Committees' Association, popularly known as Dong Zong, told a ceramah in Indera Kayangan last night that more Chinese schools would face closure if MCA were to win the by-election tomorrow.

"I am here to urge all the people not to vote for MCA," said Ding Nguk Kong, 70, who is from the Pahang branch of Dong Zong and a MCA life member.

Ding also slammed the police for stopping a group of Chinese education lobbyists from proceeding with their meeting at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday because it did not have a police permit.

Ding, who was in the hall that night, claimed that the police told the organisers to put off the meeting until after the Jan 19 Indera Kayangan by-election as the matter was considered "sensitive".

"The MCA can set fire but we cannot even light a candle," Ding told some 5,000 people who were present in Pengkalan Assam, Kangar last night.

Among the guest speakers at the ceramah included Keadilan president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, vice-president Azmin Ali, information chief Ruslan Kassim and PRM leader Syed Husin Ali.

Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Mat Nik Aziz, who was also scheduled to speak, was however held back at the KLIA airport due to flight delays.

'Empty promises'

Ding added that about a busload of people will be in Indera Kayangan today to "tell the real story of how MCA has tried to discourage mother-tongue education".

According to him, MCA had made "empty promises" such as more Chinese schools before the 1999 general elections.

About 20 police personnel blocked the entrance to the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall on Wednesday night just before a meeting by Chinese education lobbyists was about to commence.

Some 300 representatives from various Chinese associations and organisations were barred from entering the venue.

The aborted meeting was called by Dong Zong, which is the umbrella body of Chinese schools' board of governors, to discuss matters pertaining to national Chinese primary schools and Vision Schools as well as the status of the Chee Wen primary school in Subang Jaya.

The group also wanted to get the endorsement from the Chinese community to lobby the government to convert a completed Vision School compound in Subang Jaya to Chee Wen school instead.

After a negotiation with the police that lasted for two hours, the organising party decided to postpone the meeting.