Dong Zong: Tolerance and respect key to Malaysia’s growth

Malaysia’s progress hinges on rejecting populism, respecting cultural differences, and fostering tolerance to create a new political culture, said Dong Zong chairman Tan Yew Seng.

“We advocate that for the country to progress, it must avoid sinking further, stop manipulating populism, and respect differences through mutual tolerance and understanding to build a new political culture. 

“Dong Zong has consistently emphasized the importance of preserving diversity and mutual prosperity by promoting cross-ethnic interaction and communication. 

“They hoped to start from schools and jointly uphold the sustainable development of mother-tongue education in a multilingual context,” he said, reported Nanyang Daily. 

He pointed out that as times change and challenges and issues continuously arise, the country needs to innovate and rethink its approach to adapt and develop.

He made these remarks in response to the surge in calls for a ban on brewery donations to all schools, including vernacular ones.

Controversy erupted after a photo of Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu at a Tiger Beer-sponsored charity event went viral.

In response, the Education Ministry (MoE) issued a reminder reminding educational institutions to adhere to existing guidelines for event organisation and donation acceptance. 

These guidelines ban schools from accepting donations from sources like gambling, tobacco, drugs, and alcohol to protect students’ well-being from potential harm.

On July 26, the MoE said that the guidelines would stay the same.

However, vernacular schools can continue to accept donations from breweries through school boards and foundations.