theSun | THURSDAY MARCH 12 2009
news without borders
Yap expected to
retain
Dong Zong post
DONG ZONG president Dr Yap
Sin Tian is expected to retain his
post in the Chinese education
movement’s election in June
this year despite the warning of
a “tsunami” by his detractors.
According to a report in Sin
Chew Daily yesterday, the cur-
rent situation favours Yap.
Yap had told the daily in an
interview earlier this week that
he would seek a fresh mandate
to lead the movement that
represents the school commit-
tees of over 60 independent
Chinese secondary schools in
the country.
The daily said although the
election is months away and
Dong Zong’s components, the
Dong Lians (associations of Chi-
nese school committees in all
13 states), have yet to announce
their allegiance, Yap is said to
have the support of delegates
from both Sabah and Sarawak.
Support from the north of
the peninsula, east coast and
southern states is likely to be
split between Yap’s camp and
a rival group but with the back-
ing of Sabah and Sarawak, the
veteran educationist is expected
to ride out the storm.
The report said although
there is talk that a group within
the factionalised Selangor-Kuala
Lumpur Dong Lian, which Yap
Press Digest
by Kong See Hoh
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
helms, is plotting to bring him
down at the Dong Lian election
next month, Yap’s opponent is
unlikely to muster enough sup-
port to create a “tsunami”.
“Currently, although there
are people who dislike Yap, they
cannot find a better candidate
to replace him. What we want
is a leader who can unite the
Chinese education movement,”
said a source.
“As for Yap’s remark that he is
willing to continue to lead Dong
Zong, this is democratic election,
as long as the requirements are
met, anyone can contest.”
The source added that in the
run-up to next month’s Dong
Lian elections, no potential can-
didates would want to declare
whether they support Yap to
avoid jeopardising their own
chances.
Meanwhile, China Press
reported that Yap appears to be
in firm control of Selangor-Kuala
Lumpur Dong Lian but all may
not be well for him.
The report hints of a calm
before the storm and anything
can happen come polling day.
9
No discussion with Anwar,
says Abdullah
KOTA KINABALU: Prime Min- after visiting the Sepanggar Naval he had told his deputy Datuk Seri
ister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Base here yesterday. Najib Abdul Razak about the date
Badawi has refuted reports that “Syeikh Mahmud conveyed for the transfer of power, Abdullah
he had a discussion with Parti his view to me about the various said: “I will have to make a formal
Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser problems in the world today and announcement on that.”
Blood Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during he stressed that it was important Asked whether he already had
tests catch a religious event in Hulu Langat, for leaders of this country to be fair a date in mind, he said: “We have
Selangor, on Tuesday. and to always ensure peace. to have a date.”
ovarian Abdullah said he attended the “He spoke to me, he did not Asked about opposition MPs
cancer event at the invitation of prominent speak to Anwar. Nothing more who were absent when Najib, who
early religious figure Syeikh Mahmud than that.” is also the finance minister, was ta-
al-Majzub. Asked to comment on a specula- bling the second stimulus package
pg 11 “I was invited and I went, and tive report carried by Malaysiakini in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday,
when we were in the midst of pertaining to their presence at the Abdullah said it showed that the
having lunch, Datuk Seri Anwar event, Abdullah said it was “mak- opposition members were not
Ibrahim came. He was invited to sit ing assumptions”. interested in what the government
and have lunch. That’s all. No dis- To a question on a report by wanted to do in the mini-budget.
cussion,” Abdullah told reporters Malaysian Insider, claiming that – Bernama
Muthu: Underhand tactics to ensure no-contest
KUALA LUMPUR: MIC presidential aspirant the 50 nominations required to enable him tion to contest the party’s top post late last
Datuk M. Muthupalaniappan has charged to contest the top post. year. Samy Vellu, who had said he would
that several MIC leaders are using under- “There are people going around asking defend the post, has been at the helm of
hand tactics to frustrate his bid for the branch chairmen to sign nomination forms the party since 1979.
party’s top post. for Samy Vellu, whe n they had already Under the party constitution, a presiden-
Such below-the-belt tactics, he said, nominated me,” he said. tial candidate needs to obtain 50 nomina-
were used to ensure incumbent MIC presi- “Branch chairmen are only allowed to tions, with each nomination needing one
dent Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu won the post nominate one person. Some leaders are proposer and five seconders. All proposers
uncontested. saying it is all right to sign twice. This is and seconders must be branch chairmen.
The 66-year-old leader from Seremban wrong and misleading. All they want is to The party has fixed March 22 for the
also claimed that MIC branch chairmen declare my nomination null and void.” presidential nomination while polling is
were threatened to ensure he did not get Muthupalaniappan announced his inten- slated for April 12. – Bernama