MOE probes claims of Chinese school receiving donation from brewery

The Education Ministry is investigating allegations that a Chinese vernacular school in Sepang, Selangor had received donations from a company producing alcoholic beverages.

“The ministry takes this seriously and we wish to remind school administrators to adhere to existing guidelines when it comes to organising programmes and receiving donations.

“And this covers the prohibition of receiving donations from gains made through gambling activities, cigarette manufacturers, alcoholic beverage makers and its likes as they could jeopardise our students physically, intellectually, spiritually and emotionally,” it said in a statement.

Last Sunday, a charity event organised by the school courted controversy after it was found that a brewery company was one of the donors.

Also present were Sungai Pelek assemblyperson Lwi Kian Keong and Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Aiman Athirah Sabu, where the latter was seen holding a mock cheque with the brewery company’s logo on it.

The Chinese Education Charity Concert began in 1994.

According to Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh’s speech in May this year, the charity performance has raised over RM407 million in the past 30 years, benefiting 540 Chinese schools.

PAS leader chides Aiman

Three days ago, Selangor PAS Youth chief Mohamed Sukri Omar took to Facebook to criticise Aiman, calling the matter an embarrassment.

“If this is how an Amanah leader is going to behave, Islam’s sanctity will be under threat by liberalisation masked as Islam,” he said on Facebook.

Yesterday, Aiman apologised to those who may have felt slighted by her holding the mock cheque with the brewery company’s logo.

However, Aiman stressed that as a leader, she cannot ignore the rights of other communities.

“I believe people understand the situation and won’t fall for the slander being spread.

“People make mistakes, and in any case, I apologise to those who may have been slighted by this,” Sinar Harian reported her as saying.

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