Thesun 2008-11-06 Page17 Tee Keat Name Liaison Chiefs On Tuesday

theSun

17

| THURSDAY NOVEMBER 6 2008

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Tee Keat to name liaison chiefs on Tuesday MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat says he will name the party’s state liaison chiefs at next Tuesday’s central committee (CC) meeting, the first after the party elections. According to a report in Sin Chew Daily yesterday, the threeweek period it has taken for the party chief to call for a CC meeting after the polls is believed to be the longest in MCA history. All eyes are on the coming meeting which Ong will chair, as

his choice of people to make up his team will have a bearing on how well he can work with his deputy, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, during the next three years. Some committee members said the central leadership is going through a period of adaption, including to Ong’s leadership style, and how well they click as a team. One member told the daily the party could not afford to waste its energy on infighting, and believes Ong will pick his candidates with a

view to minimising conflict. The member, who was not named, said Ong’s acid test would be in choosing the Johor liaison chief and deciding whether Chua should be nominated for a cabinet post. By MCA tradition, the party’s No. 2 has always been a minister. Earlier, some states lobbied for their leaders to be appointed state chiefs. A small number of Johor divisions and branches had made it clear they wanted either Ong

Press Digest by Kong See Hoh

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or vice-president Tan Kok Hong to helm Johor, while Chua’s supporters sat tight. Ong, however, has given no indication of his possible choices so far. He has also kept everyone guessing on who he will pick as secretary-general. Some CC members are of the opinion that as the party’s spokesman, the secretary-general does not necessarily have to hold a government position but must be someone well-versed with party affairs and be able to work with the party chief. There is speculation that Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan may be reappointed as secretary-general, although having lost to Chua in

the fight for the deputy president’s post, and the housing and local government minister’s post he holds would likely go to Datuk Kong Cho Ha, who was elected vice-president with the highest number of votes. Kong is currently the deputy science, technology and innovation minister. Meanwhile, Tee Keat said the party’s top leadership would appraise the performance of elected MCA representatives and grassroots leaders with government positions. Speaking to the press after opening the Kuang Sheng Meditation Association building in Johor Baru on Tuesday, he said elected representatives would be assessed on their performance in Parliament as well as the respective state legislative assembly meetings. He said this is to ensure they take their responsibilities seriously and meet public expectations.

RM50m for Chinese primary schools inadequate: Jiao Zong CHINESE education movement Dong Jiao Zong says the RM50 million allocated to Chinese primary schools under a RM7 billion stimulus package is completely inadequate to overcome the long-standing financial woes of the schools. According to a report in China Press yesterday, Dong Zong (United

Chinese School Committees Association) welcomed the allocation but said the “RM50 million is just a bonus to Chinese primary schools, which number 1,290”. It suggested that the government should formulate a proper system of allocating funds to these schools. Jiao Zong concurred with Dong Zong, saying the sum is small

when divided between the schools, far from what is required to meet their need. Its president Ong Chiaw Chuen held the view that the RM200 million which was distributed equally among four types of schools – government-aided religious schools, mission schools, Chinese and Tamil schools – should have

been awarded to the four categories according to their numbers. He also said Chinese primary schools should come under mainstream education as far as allocation of funds is concerned. That way, Ong said, Chinese schools, which make up 21% of the total number primary schools in the country, would receive more

funds. He said under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, only 3.6% of total education allocations went to Chinese primary schools. Ong hoped the RM50 million for Chinese schools would not include allocations for six new Chinese primary schools under construction.