THE decades-old Johor United Chinese School Committees Association (Johor Dong Lian Hui) has been deregistered following disputes over its constitution.
According to Chinese press reports today, the Registrar of Societies (ROS), which issued a show-cause letter to the association on Jan 15, was not satisfied with the explanation given by the latter.
In a press release on Tuesday, the association confirmed receiving a latter from ROS on Aug 20 on the revocation of its registration.
In the letter, which was dated Aug 8, ROS said the association has 30 days to appeal to the home minister if it is not happy with the deregistration order.
ROS also reminded the association that the revocation of its registration has caused the association to be defunct and any individuals or former committee members attempting to manage its affairs are deemed to be committing an offence under Societies Act 1966, which is punishable with an imprisonment of up to five years, or a fine of up to RM15,000, or both.
The association’s president, Tan Tai Kim, said he will seek a meeting with the home minister as soon as possible and hope that the latter would take cognisance of Johor Dong Lian Hui’s six decades of contribution in the education field.
Meanwhile, former Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees Association) deputy president Chow Siew Hon urged Tan, who is also Dong Zong president, and a few committee members of Johor Dong Lian Hui — one of the 13 members of Dong Zong — who are also Dong Zong office-bearers, to quit their posts in the umbrella body.
Chow is worried that their continued presence in Dong Zong may cause it to be deregistered too.
