Don’t distort fundraising efforts to create racial conflict, groups say over brewery donation issue

TWO Chinese education groups have urged the Education Ministry (MOE) to be professional and rational in their investigation into allegations that a Chinese vernacular school in Sepang, Selangor had received donations from a company that produces alcoholic beverages.

(Focus Malaysia) – Calling for the authorities to not be swayed by political rhetoric, the United Chinese School Committees Association (Dong Zong) and United Chinese School Teachers Association (Jiao Zong) said the MOE should clarify the matter to avoid disrupting fundraising efforts for Chinese primary schools.

“It should be noted that Chinese schools have long faced issues such as dilapidated buildings, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of funding,” the groups, collectively known as Dong Jiao Zong, said in a statement on Tuesday (July 23).

“Over the past 30 years, (the brewery company) and generous individuals have raised over hundreds of millions of ringgit for hundreds of Chinese schools nationwide.

“These acts of generosity, which benefit countless students, should be commended, not distorted to create racial conflict and harm social harmony.”

According to Dong Jiao Zong, it is common for many businesses to have corporate social responsibility initiatives to support education, and such public support for education will make resource mobilisation more effective.

“As long as the companies are legitimate and (the donations) are unconditional, all parties should welcome their social responsibility efforts to assist various types of schools,” they said.

“The government should also adopt an open-minded attitude and encourage corporate contributions to society.”

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

Selangor state executive councillor for local government, new village development and tourism Ng Suee Lim officiated the event.

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.

In response to this, the MOE in a statement had reminded school administrators that existing guidelines prohibit schools from 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”.

Dong Jiao Zong also criticised Selangor PAS Youth chief Mohamed Sukri Omar for supposedly stoking racial tensions and attacking the fundraising event for Chinese vernacular schools for political mileage.

“We are disgusted by this opportunistic behaviour, which aims to attack political rivals at the expense of Malaysia’s ethnic relations,” they added.

Recall that on July 19, Sukri had slammed the Chinese Education Charity Concert held at SJK (C) Tche Min in Sungai Pelek, Sepang on July 14.

“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.

Although Sukri did not name the deputy minister, it is believed that he was referring to Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Aiman Athirah Sabu who was seen holding a mock cheque featuring the logo of a beer brand that sponsored the event.