PETALING JAYA: Funds from alcohol and gambling industries have been channelled to vernacular schools and Chinese temples since the days of the Barisan Nasional administration, says Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
“This had been practised by Barisan in the past. Money from alcohol and gambling companies was not to be used for mosques and the like so the money was given to the Chinese temples and vernacular schools.
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“This is the practice that we are continuing in this current government,” he said.
Khaled, who is also Defence Minister, said this during a speech at the Gombak Umno division meeting yesterday.
He also asked why Perikatan Nasional had not acted on this issue when it was in power from 2020 to 2023.
“If it was not right, why was it not stopped when they were the government?” he said.
Controversy over the issue erupted when PAS criticised Sepang MP Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu, who is Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister, after she was seen on stage with several others behind a RM3mil mock cheque bearing the logo of a brewery at a primary school event in Selangor.
The charity concert and dinner was held at SJK(C) Tche Min in Sungai Pelek, Sepang, on July 14 to raise funds for the construction of a hall for the school.
PAS alleged that Aiman Athirah’s presence at the event was “normalising” alcohol consumption.
Last Friday, the Education Ministry said the Cabinet, at its meeting on July 24, had decided that it would consider allowing vernacular schools to receive funds through its board of directors and foundation, including from activities involving alcohol brands.
The Cabinet also agreed to uphold existing guidelines that prohibit fund donation activities that display and promote alcohol on school premises, and maintained that activities involving alcohol brands must not include Muslim students.
Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had also commented that the alcoholic beverage company’s sponsorship was for the charity concert and not a direct donation to the school.
The Deputy Prime Minister added that the event was organised by the school’s Parent-Teacher Association and the school board.
