Brewery donation: No grey area, status quo remains - Loke

Transport Minister Anthony Loke today said there is no “grey area” in the cabinet’s decision on guidelines for Chinese school fundraisers.

Speaking to reporters in Klang, he stressed there have been no changes beyond making clear that such events hosted in schools must not include any display and promotion of alcoholic beverages.

“There is no grey area. It has been made clear the status quo remains. That means, what has been in practice before is allowed,” said Loke.

The DAP secretary-general said the cabinet decision also makes clear that no Muslim students will be involved in any fundraisers with links to breweries, both held in or out of schools.

“So the status quo remains on the hosting of these programmes, but with a condition set by the cabinet that it does not involve Muslim students.

“That is clear,” he stressed.

Loke reiterated that other ministers, including those from Umno who attended the cabinet meeting last week, also issued similar explanations on questions surrounding the charity event organised by SJK(C) Tche Min in Sungai Pelek, Sepang.

The fundraiser courted controversy after it was found that Tiger Beer was one of the donors.

“So there is no need to raise this polemic. It has been practised all these while with no problems,” he added.

It should be noted that Chinese schools have been working with brewery companies to organise fundraising concerts for decades.

In addition, since 2011, vernacular schools have also received donations from “Jana Pendidikan”, a fund set up by a consortium that owns the Da Ma Cai numbers betting outlet.

Umno vice-president Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the BN government in the past used to funnel funds collected from alcohol and gambling industries to fund vernacular schools and Chinese temples.

MP SPEAKS | Brewery donation: Stop preaching, give govt funds instead

Aiman brushes off Maszlee's call to resign over brewery donation brouhaha

BN govt used to channel sin tax to vernacular schools, says Khaled

Guan Eng backs cabinet on brewery issue, clarifies statement

No change to existing schools' fundraising guidelines - ministry

KINIGUIDE | How concerts help Chinese schools raise money

School in ‘brewery donation’ saga should explain itself, says rep