KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 — The Cabinet has agreed to retain existing guidelines on acceptable fundraising for schools, the Education Ministry said after the controversy over a beer company’s alleged donation to a vernacular school.
It said the Cabinet decided in its meeting on Wednesday to keep the guidelines’ restrictions against displaying elements linked to alcohol brands in school premises.
“At the same time, the Cabinet also took the view that vernacular schools be allowed to continue receiving donations through their school administration boards and foundations, as has been the practice during previous administration and without dispute,” it said in a statement.
However, the ministry said the Cabinet was unequivocal in saying that no Muslims must be involved in any activities featuring alcohol firms.
The controversy stemmed from the attendance of Parti Amanah Negara’s Sepang MP Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu at a recent fundraising event where she appeared onstage with others holding a mock cheque that showed the Tiger Beer logo, among others.
DAP’s Sungai Pelek assemblyman Lwi Kian Keong reportedly said he and Aiman Athirah only learned about the logo when they saw it on the stage.
Yesterday, the beer brand clarified yesterday that it did not give any money to vernacular schools in Malaysia, and that its support is limited to providing local artists for charity concerts to help raise funds from the public.
Tiger Beer said the Chinese Education Charity Concert (CECC) has existed for 30 years, and that the concert’s mission is to be a platform for local communities to help raise funds to upgrade facilities at Chinese schools.
