PETALING JAYA: Prominent beer brand Tiger Beer has clarified that it did not provide any monetary donations to Chinese schools in the country.
In a press statement on Thursday (July 25), it noted that the brand has only engaged in presenting potential local performing artistes for the Chinese Education Charity Concert (CECC).
“Our sole role in the CECC is presenting local performing artistes for the concert that is organised for the donors.
“Our communications and engagements are kept at the level of the school’s Parent-Teacher Associations (PIBG) and the board members that run the schools,” it said in the statement.
It also said that more than RM413mil has been raised by the local communities through the CECC without any donations from the beer brand to the schools since its establishment over 30 years ago.
It added that CECC organisers have always taken great care to ensure that all its programmes and activities were respectful of religious and cultural sensitivities as well as being compliant with the local regulations.
Established in 1994, the CECC has been a platform for the local communities to help raise funds for upgrading Chinese school facilities to enrich students’ learning experiences.
Controversy first arose last Friday (July 19) after Selangor PAS Youth chief Sukri Omar criticised Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu for being present at a ceremony where a brewery allegedly helped raise RM3mil for the construction of a hall in a vernacular school.
Sukri claimed that the participation of the beer company in the project was akin to normalising alcohol in schools.
The sudden claim has since led to a number of defamatory posts across social media against Aiman linking her to promoting alcoholic beverages in schools.
To this, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said he would brief the Cabinet on Wednesday (July 24) regarding the issue.
