Philanthropist Datuk Seri Lee Tian Hock who is the main sponsor of the proposed Dong Zong Chinese Education Complex has switched his donation of RM5million to New Era University College.

The developer who founded Matrix Concepts Holdings Bhd withdraws his pledge to donate RM5 million for the construction of a new complex to New Era University College for the purchase of a building.

He stressed that the switch does not mean that he places emphasis on New Era over Dong Zong, the United Chinese School Committees’ Association of Malaysia

The RM1 million donation he made to Dong Zong last year had been refunded to him on 26 April.

He has since reverted the RM1 million to New Era University College instead.

Lee also urged the Chinese community to assist New Era University College to move out from its current location, a building where Dong Zong is the proprietor of the building and manager of the land.

He urged the 17 donors who have pledged donation to Dong Zong to switch to New Era University College like him instead so that the university funded by Chinese community would be able to raise sufficient fund for its relocation to a campus.

Lee is of the view that relocation of New Era University College from its premises paved the way for Dong Zong to have sufficient space and a new complex is not necessary.

He also said that the proposed plan by Dong Zong to build a new complex on a slope is unsuitable. It will also incur additional costs.

Lee said New Era University College sent a delegation comprising of its legal team to meet him on 23 October last year to seek his help to negotiate with Dong Zong over the university being blocked by the proposed new complex of Dong Zong.

Lee said he met up with Dong Zong chairman Tan Tai Kim and few others over the matter and the latter promised to look into it.

Lee said Dong Zong, which already received RM10 million of donation, could use the fund to refurbish and maintain the building after the relocation of New Era University College.

“This is one of the agreements we have achieved so far mediating with Dong Zong, United Chinese School Teachers’ Association of Malaysia (Jiao Zong) and Merdeka University,” he said.

Lee said that he hopes New Era University College, in legal tussle with Dong Zong, Jiao Zong and Merdeka University over the land dispute, would reach an amicable settlement.

The case is scheduled in Shah Alam High Court on 9 May.

Tan, in a press conference held on 5 May, said Dong Zong, Jiao Zong and Merdeka University would proceed with building the Chinese Education Integrated Complex and open to resolve disputes through negotiation.

Tan said the proposed construction of the complex started in 2019 to have a multi-purpose hall, examination venue, audio visual laboratory, classrooms, hostel, gallery, activity hall and others.

The Dong Zong leadership would also engage professionals to assess the refurbishment costs of two blocks of buildings vacated by New Era University College.

“We will review, plan and adjust according to practical needs,’’ he said this in reply to Lee’s press conference retracting his pledge of RM5 million for the proposed new complex on 3 May (Fri).

Tan said the three organisations are looking forward to refrain from unnecessary wastage of resources and resolve the legal disputes through negotiations.

“We are open to negotiation and hope to reach a consensus in solving the disputes. We believe this would be the outcome that the Chinese community is looking forward to,’’ he said.