Pas targeted Aiman at the cost of racial tensions

Selangor Pas Youth chief Mohamed Sukri Omar’s attack against Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu at the cost of racial tensions merely for the sake if political mileage, said two Chinese education groups.

“We are disgusted by this opportunistic behaviour, which aims to attack political rivals at the expense of Malaysia’s ethnic relations,” said the United Chinese School Committees Association, better known as Dong Zong, and United Chinese School Teachers Association (Jiao Zong).

Sukri sparked controversy after highlighting that a Chinese school fund collecting function received the sponsorship of a beer company. Several other people linked Aiman to Tiger Beer, the company that sponsored funds to the school.

Following that the Education Ministry is investigating the matter as there are guidelines that prohibit schools of receiving funds from proceeds of gambling activities, cigarette manufacturers and alcoholic beverages.

“We believe the ministry should clarify this to avoid disrupting fundraising efforts for Chinese primary schools,” said both the groups who are better known as Dong Jiao Zong.

“It should be noted that Chinese schools have long faced issues such as dilapidated buildings, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of funding.

“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.”

Dong Jiao Zong also pointed out that many companies are having corporate social responsibility by supporting education issues.

“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

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

Sukri had criticised the Chinese Education Charity Concert held at SJK(C) Tche Min in Sungai Pelek, Sepang that took place July 14. He did so via a post on Facebook on July 19.

“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, without naming Aiman, outright, on Facebook.

Aiman, through her service centre donated RM100,000 for the construction of the school hall.

Tiger Beer donated over RM3 million.

The damage caused by Sukri led to some slandering Aiman. Aiman had given a 48-hour period to one Facebook user Md Nor Azam Yusof to stop spreading slanders and defaming her.