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Secretary General of SUPP, Datuk Sebastian Ting on ban of  Dong Zong conference 

Majority of the Chinese in Malaysia and SUPP are  extremely shocked and greatly disappointed that Dong Zong was forced to abandon and or cancel their proposed conference by the Police who obtained the Court Order, an injunction, to stop them from holding the conference on the ground that the conference might be a breach of the peace.

Secretary General of SUPP, Datuk Sebastian Ting said they and the majority of those voters in PRU14 who voted for change of Governemt were totally shocked and greatly disappointed because they were promised of new Government, new hopes, more freedom of speech and right of assembly, as provided for in our Federal Constitution, recognition of Unified Education Certificate, amongst many others.

He pointed out that Article 10 of the Constitution of Malaysia is crystal clear and it guarantees all Malaysians the right to freedom of speech (Article 10(1)(a)

 freedom of assembly (Article 10(1)(b)

and freedom of Association(Article 10(1)(c)

“The above three freedoms as enshrined in our Federal Constitution are always believed to be the basic  fundamental individual rights which are as essential conditions for a free and democratic way of life.  With the above provisions in our Federal Constitution, the question here is whether the Court Order obtained by the Police to stop or ban Dong Zong from holding their proposed conference to discuss their objections towards the introduction or implementation of Jawi in the Bahasa Malaysia subject in vernacular schools for year 4 students commencing next year is constitutional or not, ” he added. 

We, said Ting are of the opinion that the Ban Order might have contravened Article 10 of our Federal Constitution and therefore it might be unconstitutional.The Police have sworn to uphold the Federal Constitution and are seen to be the protectors of the people, providing, amongst others, protection to each and every citizen of Malaysia. 

In this instant case, he stated, even if the Police might have received or obtained information that holding such a conference or gathering by Dong Zong 

might result of a breach of the peace, it should be the duty of Police to provide such adequate protection to ensure that such anticipated breach of the peace would never happen,  such as preventing any other NGO wanting to organise the Anti Dong Zong from going anywhere near the venue where Dong Zong was supposed to hold the conference. 

“These other NGOS too have their Constitutional Rights to Freedom of Speech and Rights of Assembly. The right thing to do would be to separate these two groups from meeting each other. Each group could have their own gatherings in different places, far from each other. In this they will never clash and therefore no threat at all to the imaginary breach of the peace”. 

Ting said SUPP firmly believes our Federal Constitution is the supreme law of our Country to be read together with Malaysia Agreement 1963, Cobbold Commission Report,  Inter Governmental Committee Reports and Malaysia Act  1963 (Chapter 35 ) and Article 10 as stated above provide guarantee to each and every Malaysian the Right of Freedom of Speech. Freedom of Assembly and Freedom of Association 

We must not allow our Constitutional Rights being taken away or being deprived of. The Police also chose to go to Court and obtained the Court Order without offering or giving Dong Zong an opportunity to be heard. 

Is this the new democracy of our Country under this present Government?

At this juncture, we are equally concerned on the development in 

Kuala Lumpur on the Dong Zong ‘s present challenges.

In this respect, our SUPP legal team will study this case thoroughly and Datuk Richard Wee, Chairman of Sarawak United Association of Chinese School Boards of Management and I had contacted each other and we would arrange a meeting with the Association to  discuss and find the best solutions on the way forward.

SUPP, since the formation in 1959, has always been very concerned with Chinese education. SUPP had previously issued press statements strongly opposing the introduction or implementation of jawi to Chinese Primanry Schools in Sarawak. 

We are still opposing this introduction or implementation of jawi to our Sarawak Chinese Schools next year. 

We are with the Sarawak GPS Government in our quest and  negotiation with the Federal Government for the education and health autonomy be passed on to Sarawak Government as soon as possible.  Sarawak GPS Government is confident that we will certainly be able to manage our own schools better .

“Here we would like to remind Sarawak DAP leaders of their PRU14 election promises, amongst others, to give education and health autonomy to Sarawak GPS Government,” he said. 






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