Stay in your turf, Akmal

Umno youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh sarcastically suggested that, given the Education Ministry (MoE) approval for vernacular schools to accept donations from breweries through School Management Boards (LPS), gambling companies might as well be invited to run programs in schools.

He was referring to the recent controversy over vernacular schools accepting donations from Heineken Malaysia.

Akmal, the Merlimau assemblyman, needs to stop wasting time on Chinese community issues and start tackling the pressing problems in Malacca.

His interference is not only misplaced but a distraction from real local concerns.

Akmal has never understood Chinese issues and the community, despite being in a BN coalition with non-Malay parties like MCA and MIC.

Akmal needs to learn more about the issue before commenting on it.

Since the Tiger Chinese Education Charity Concert (CECC) program was launched in 1994, over 500 schools across Malaysia have received more than RM100 million in donations.

Such an event has been held for 30 years to raise funds for vernacular schools.

In an ideal world, vernacular schools would not need to rely on donations from breweries or gambling companies.

However, given the current underfunding of Malaysia’s vernacular schools, we should ensure they are adequately funded before considering a ban on such donations.

No beers or alcoholic drinks were present during the event so there is no issue of “encouraging” students to drink alcohol.

Politicians who claim otherwise need to do their homework before suggesting that being exposed to such events would lead to alcoholism.

The argument that association with these items will lead students astray doesn’t hold water.

Several politicians including Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said she attended such an event before as a child and didn’t turn her into an alcoholic.

Former Selangor exco Datuk Teng Chang Khim said many Chinese literature works also reference alcohol, yet students do not become alcoholics.

“We have countless literary works, such as Tang dynasty poetry, Song dynasty lyrics, and Yuan dynasty poetry, that use wine to express emotions.

“How many people have turned to drinking or alcoholism because they read these literary works featuring the word ‘wine’?” he asked.

In any case, MoE had said vernacular schools can accept donations from breweries if they go through LPS.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke stated that breweries are allowed to sponsor charity events as long as they do not display their logos on school premises.

Even today Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek asked others to stop harping on the issue. Yet, Akmal defies the Education Ministry’s advice and continues to harp on the issue.

DAP national chairman Lim Guan Eng has stated that more funding is needed if vernacular schools were to stand on their own without needing help from breweries.

“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 said.

It is undeniable that brewery sponsorship helped Chinese schools.

The fact that the donations come from breweries does not negate the actual assistance it provides to schools.

According to the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) president Senator Tan Sri Low Kian Chuan, charity activities sponsored by beer companies have successfully raised nearly RM1 billion for over 1,000 schools in the past 37 years.

This model, which balances corporate social responsibility with commercial interests, proves sustainable and should be endorsed.

The government ought to acknowledge the support from companies to Chinese schools, as this vital aid enables these schools to nurture talent with limited resources and contribute to national development.

Chinese education’s mission extends beyond preserving cultural heritage; it also involves maintaining Malaysia’s multicultural identity amidst various challenges and fostering national unity.

This common purpose should unite Malaysians and instil pride in our nation.

Politicians should move past this controversy and cease the ongoing debates.

In essence, charity events for Chinese education must continue, and these schools should keep advancing.