Why didn’t PN stop use of ‘sin’ money, says Khaled

“If that (practice) is not right, why didn’t they stop it when they were the government?”

(FMT) – It was a practice of Barisan Nasional governments of the past to channel donations from breweries and gaming companies to develop vernacular schools and Chinese temples, an Umno vice-president said today.

Khaled Nordin said the past governments adopted such a practice as they believed that government money from gambling and alcohol proceeds should not be channelled to mosques.

“We give it to temples, give it to vernacular schools, and that’s the practice continued by the current government,” he said when opening the Gombak Umno division meeting today, Malaysiakini reported.

Khaled questioned why Perikatan Nasional did not act on the practice when they were in power (from March 2020 to August 2021).

“If that (practice) is not right, why didn’t they stop it when they were the government?” he said.

Fundraising for Chinese-medium schools became an issue after PAS criticised a deputy minister for receiving a RM3 million mock cheque bearing a Tiger Beer logo at a fundraiser for SJK(C) Tche Min in Sungai Pelek, Selangor, recently.

On Friday, the education ministry said it will maintain existing guidelines on donations to schools, that contributions cannot display or promote alcohol brands on school premises, while the Cabinet had agreed to give leeway for vernacular schools to accept donations through their board of directors or foundation.

Khaled also called on Umno members to help combat the attacks against the government over this matter.