KUALA LUMPUR – Gerakan will maintain its stance that Chinese vernacular schools should be allowed to receive funds from any entity, despite a warning from Perikatan Nasional ally PAS that it may drop cooperation in the next general election.
Wendy Subramaniam, Gerakan’s communications chief, said vernacular schools were forced to receive outside funds for development and maintenance as what they received from the government was insufficient.
“Education is a priority and as long as the funds don’t interfere with our children’s learning, then it’s not wrong for schools to receive funds,” Wendy said in a statement.
She was responding to PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, who said the party may end its political cooperation with Gerakan at the next general election if the multiracial party continued to hold the same view as DAP on allowing alcohol or tobacco companies to donate funds to Chinese vernacular schools.
Wendy dismissed Fadhli’s view as a personal one.
She said PN component parties held differing views on certain matters which could be resolved through civil discussion.
Last week, a fundraising event was held at SJK(C) Tche Min, where photos were taken of Amanah politician and Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister Aiman Athirah Sabu holding a mock cheque for RM3 million bearing the Tiger Beer logo.
Sg Pelek assemblyman Lwi Kian Keong also attended the event at the school in his constituency in Selangor.
Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh then pointed out that Tiger Beer, which is owned by Heineken Malaysia Bhd, had been hosting fundraisers for the past 30 years, allowing vernacular schools to upgrade their amenities without relying on the government.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, who is also transport minister, had previously said he would seek a cabinet review of the Education Ministry’s guidelines against schools receiving funds generated from the sale of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages.
Tiger Beer denied making charitable donations to schools, claiming that its role in the fundraiser event, known as the Chinese Education Charity Concert, only involved sponsorship of performances by local artists. – July 28, 2024