SEREMBAN: All parties urged to put to rest the issue of vernacular schools receiving funds from activities involving alcohol brands through their board of directors and foundations, says Fadhlina Sidek.

The Education Minister said the Cabinet had deliberated on this during its meeting on Wednesday (July 24) and the decision taken was in the best interest of all parties.

"I think the decision taken by the Cabinet and the follow-up statement issued by the Education Ministry is clear on this. I do not think there are any more outstanding issues.

"We have made our stand clear repeatedly and we will continue to uphold it," she said when met at the Tuanku Muhriz College here.

Fadhlina was asked to respond to the continuous polemic on the issue by certain quarters despite the Cabinet decision.

"As far as I am concerned, we should put a stop to such polemic and focus on more important and bigger issues," she said.

On Friday (July 26), the ministry, in a statement, said the Cabinet has decided that it will consider allowing vernacular schools to receive funds through its board of directors and foundations, including from activities involving alcohol brands.

It said the stand had been the practice of several administrations without dispute.

However, the Cabinet had stressed that activities involving alcoholic brands must not include Muslim students.

The ministry also said the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday had agreed to uphold existing guidelines that prohibit fund raising activities that display and promote alcohol brands on school premises.

The statement was issued on Monday (July 28) in response to the furore involving a charity concert and dinner held at SJK(C) Tche Min in Sungai Pelek, Sepang, Selangor, on July 14.

The event was in aid of the construction of a hall for the school.

Controversy erupted when PAS took issue with the presence of Sepang MP Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu at the fundraising event. She appeared on stage with several others behind a RM3mil mock cheque bearing the logo of a brewery.

PAS alleged that this was akin to "normalising" alcohol consumption.

The issue has since received mixed views, with some saying that having a fair allocation system for all schools would remove the need for some schools to raise funds on their own.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/07/30/cabinet-decision-clear-put-vernacular-school-funding-issue-to-rest-urges-education-minister