Zahid echoes brewery, no funds for school

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that there are misunderstandings surrounding claims that an alcohol company donated money to a Chinese vernacular school in Selangor.

“There was no contribution from the alcohol company to any school, contrary to the perception that has arisen,” Zahid said, reported FMT.

“It is a sponsorship for an event (charity concert), organised by the PTA and the school board.

“It was not about a donation for the school from the alcoholic beverage company to any school, contrary to existing perception,” he added.

He clarified that the brewery merely sponsored a charity concert for fundraising purposes and did not directly contribute any funds to the school, reported Berita Harian.

He was responding to the controversy sparked by a viral photo showing Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu at a school charity event funded by Heineken Malaysia.

Yesterday, Heineken Malaysia made a similar statement.

The brewery said it did not provide donations to schools.

The company said that the organizers of the platform had made sure all programs and activities respect local sensitivities and adhere to regulations.

On July 22, the Education Ministry launched an investigation into the incident and reiterated that schools must adhere to guidelines prohibiting donations from sources such as gambling, tobacco, drugs, and alcohol.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek later stated that these guidelines would remain unchanged and that no exceptions would be made for any schools, including vernacular schools.

On July 24, Seremban MP Anthony Loke consulted with the Cabinet about revising an Education Ministry guideline that prohibits schools from accepting donations from tobacco and alcohol sales.

Currently, no official statement has been issued concerning the guideline.