PUTRAJAYA: Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will consider the appeal against deregistration of Johor Chinese School Managers and Teachers Association, a member of Dong Zong (United Chinese School Committees’ Association of Malaysia).
He said this was however subject to the adherence of the association to the Registrar of Societies’ (RoS) regulations.
"The association which was established some 60 years ago, was believed to be deregistered because of some technical problems.
"Four representatives, including a lawyer from the association, had come to meet me and submitted an official appeal letter according to usual procedures. I have looked at it ... it is a normal case, nothing isolated.
"They have explained their part while RoS guided them on what should be done," he told reporters at a press conference here today.
Muhyiddin said the association should also amend the constitution to meet the requirements of the RoS.
"The Johor chapter must look at their constitution and amend if needed to suit the requirements as per the Societies Act 1966.
"I have asked the association to respond to this as soon as possible because only then can the matter be brought to me for consideration.
"To us, this is not something extraordinary. It happens all the time but what is important is the association observes all the guidelines set by the RoS," he said.
Dong Zong’s central committee member Low Chee Chong was reported as saying that the group had received a letter dated Aug 8 from the Johor RoS director on Aug 20, notifying them of the deregistration.
In a statement on Tuesday, Dong Zong said it would appeal against the decision and discuss the matter with the Home Minister.
It was reported Dong Zong was unable to give a satisfactory explanation to the RoS over the repeated changes of its constitution, which led to its deregistration.
Asked on a reported Cabinet reshuffle where Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail was said to be replacing him (Muhyiddin), he said, “You (reporters) should ask the Prime Minister (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad)”.
The report by Utusan Malaysia also said that Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng will be moved to a new portfolio.
Rumours of a Cabinet reshuffle have been rife lately as Dr Mahathir had previously hinted of changes in the portfolio of ministers.