Vernacular schools had to turn to public donations to survive, Guan Eng tells detractors

“Opponents who know nothing about the lack of development funds for Chinese schools rely on a moralistic rationale to object to brewery companies’ direct or indirect involvement in raising funds for these schools”

(Focus Malaysia) – DAP national chairman Lim Guan Eng has called out several political leaders for their “preaching, patronising tone and moralising manner” without understanding the underlying issue of Tiger and Carlsberg sponsoring fundraising activities for vernacular schools.

Specifically naming former education minister Mazlee Malik, UMNO Youth chief Datuk Muhamad Akmal Saleh and Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, Lim said the practice of both alcohol companies sponsoring fundraising activities for vernacular schools is one that has been in place for over 30 years.

“Non-Muslim parents take umbrage at being ‘lectured’ at what is healthy practice in bringing up their own children within the Chinese and vernacular education system,” he said in a statement on Monday (July 29).

“These parents are well aware of the necessity of distancing their children from alcohol. However they see nothing wrong in brewery companies involved in sponsoring the raising of funds for Chinese schools as a matter of survival.”

Lim argued that the alternative to these public donations would result in the vernacular schools remaining in a dilapidated condition to the detriment of the learning, health, safety and wellbeing of their children.

“Many of these parents opine that there is no need to source donations including from brewery companies if the federal government can guarantee to make up the shortfall by providing sufficient funds for Chinese schools,” he remarked.

Lim further acknowledged the existence of a clash of values between proponents and opponents of the involvement of brewery companies in sponsoring or fundraising activities for vernacular schools.

“Opponents who know nothing about the lack of development funds for Chinese schools rely on a moralistic rationale to object to brewery companies’ direct or indirect involvement in raising funds for these schools,” he said.

“Opponents claim that there is no political motive based on racial or religious lines. They try to mask their shrill condemnation of brewery companies’ involvement by citing any advertisements portraying the symbol of Tiger and Carlsberg as harmful to the education and health of the students.

“The fact is that brewery companies do not sell beer in the Chinese or vernacular schools. No student has been caught drinking or being drunk in the Chinese schools as alleged by Sanusi.”

The Bagan MP said these strident “holier than thou” voices failed to address and choose to completely ignore the fact that vernacular schools had to turn to public donations, including fundraising activities involving alcohol companies, in order to survive.

“Bear in mind that brewery companies of Tiger and Carlsberg have helped raise RM 981 mil since 1987 for vernacular schools,” he stressed.

According to Lim, Tiger has raised RM 413 mil since 1994 for 540 schools over the last 30 years while Carlsberg has raised RM 568 mil for 684 schools over the last 37 years since 1987.

“This RM 981 mil is critical due to the shortfall in development funding by the Education Ministry,” he pointed out.

“It is ironic that those condemning vernacular schools for allowing brewery companies to be involved in sponsoring fundraising for them do not press the Education Ministry to make up for the difference from such sponsorship by brewery companies. Why the double-standard?”

Lim said for the last 37 years, non-Muslims chose to accept the arrangement of sponsorship by alcohol companies, adding that this arrangement has worked so far when “not one parent in vernacular schools have complained about their children being influenced by these companies into drinking beer or are drunk”.

“Can those objecting to the Cabinet decision and want Chinese or vernacular schools to cease all involvement with brewery companies to stop their preaching and just come up with the money?” he asked.