CHINESE educationist group Dong Zong has filed an appeal to the Home Ministry over the deregistration of its Johor chapter by the Registrar of Societies. 

Dong Zong’s central committee member Low Chee Chong said the group received a letter dated August 8 from the Johor RoS director on August 20, notifying them of the deregistration.

“In the letter, RoS informed us that an appeal can be made to the Home Ministry within 30 days of the date of the letter. 

“Last Friday, we sent a letter to Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

“We hope to meet the home minister in the near future to resolve the issue of registration of the association,” he said.

He said Dong Zong received a show-cause letter from Johor RoS over an alleged  conflict that its constitution had with the Societies Act 1966 due to the involvement of teachers.

“Johor Dong Zong is different from Selangor’s. It has a history of its own. It was established in 1955, earlier than the Societies Act of 1966. There have been no problems all these years.   

“So, the state Dong Zong has met the registry officer at the Education Ministry after  RoS suggestion that the state chapter register under the ministry due to the involvement of teachers. 

“A letter was written in March and the Education Ministry responded that they were not involved and that such matter should be referred to RoS. 

“Officials then said the matter could be resolved,” he said.

He said Johor Dong Zong had discussed with RoS to amend the association’s constitution in accordance with the Societies Act.

“The association can change its constitution to remove teachers’ involvement. Negotiations are going well and smoothly.

“Also in July, RoS said it wanted to refer the matter to the legal department and was informed that in principle it would not be a problem,” he said.

However, the state chapter then received the deregistration letter from RoS. – September 1, 2019.