PUTRAJAYA: The serving of alcohol at events in school halls will follow the Education Ministry's current guidelines, and no new guidelines will be issued, say the Cabinet.
The government spokesperson and Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said this at the weekly post-Cabinet briefing to the media on Friday (Oct 24).
"The Cabinet has decided that there will be no changes to the current guidelines set by the Education Ministry on the serving of alcoholic drinks. The Education Ministry will issue a statement on the matter.
"As for Chinese schools, some are fully funded by the government, while others are not. Some Chinese schools have community halls managed by school management boards or funded by private benefactors. The Education Ministry knows this, and this is why we have decided that the current guidelines on serving of alcohol at events held in community halls will be applied," said Fahmi.
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When pressed for clarity on the guidelines, he stressed that the matter should be referred to the Education Ministry.
On Oct 23, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that alcohol must not be served in schools, including at events held after school hours and that the Education Ministry was reviewing its regulations on the matter.
The issue of serving alcohol at events held on school grounds was debated after PAS raised concerns about alcohol being served at the Old Michaelians’ Association’s (OMA) 90th Annual Reunion Banquet 2025, held at St Michael's Institution in Ipoh on Sept 27.
