EDUCATION Minister Fadhlina Sidek has courted some ‘opposition’ admirers for sticking her gun in the controversy of brewers’ funding of Chinese schools with DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng trolled by detractors for reminding his Pakatan Harapan (PH) ally not to behave like a “PAS’ Education Minister”.

Highly nationalistic UMNO Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh fired the first salvo by reminding the Bagan MP and DAP that Islam is the federal religion while the majority of the population is made up of Malays and Muslims.

“The policy created is to protect the sensitivity of religion and race in this country,” the Merlimau state assemblyman hit out on his Facebook (FB) page.

“Fadhlina Sidek spoke in her capacity as a minister who looks after the laws that have been set and also as a Malay-Muslim minister! My advice to you is please don’t be rude.”

For context, Guan Eng reminded Fadhlina yesterday (July 26) not to align herself with PAS and UMNO Youth on the issue of Chinese education fund-raising while emphasising that she is not the “PAS’ education minister”.

“Fadhlina’s previous comments on the Chinese education fund-raising event were rather stern. I hope she will re-consider her stance,” Malaysiakini quoted Guan Eng who is also the Air Putih state assemblyman as telling a media conference at his service centre.

“She is not the education minister of PAS. She represents PH, the unity government and the entire nation.”

The former finance minister further revealed that since 1994, Tiger Beer has raised RM413 mil through charity performances for Chinese education while Carlsberg has chipped in RM568 mil since 1987 with 684 Chinese schools being beneficiaries.

“The total amount raised is RM981 mil, nearly RM1 bil. If it weren’t for these fund-raising efforts, would the Chinese primary schools be where they are today?” asked Guan Eng.

Meanwhile, PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari chided Guan Eng for behaving like “a thug (samseng) and being big-headed” by not reprimanding Fadhlina internally in a PH meeting but instead brought up the matter openly outside.

“If there is dignity, the PKR president who is also the Prime Minister will certainly defend his own men,” contended the Pasir Mas MP in a FB post.

“The wings of the party will certainly rise up to protest against a woman leader (Fadhlina is also the PKR Wanita chief) being humiliated just for speaking up by referring to the existing circular (which bans sponsorship/financial contribution by sin industry players).”

PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden also took a pot shot at Guan Eng for behaving like a “big brother” while unceremoniously instructing a minister to break existing rules.

“Are you suggesting that when you hold power, you can do anything you wish, including breaking the rules at will to protect the interests of your party? Is this the example you want to show the people?” asked the Alor Setar MP.

“Since you described the Education Minister who upholds the rules as behaving like a PAS minister, would you then consider the deputy minister who attended the charity drive ceremony by the ‘tiger’ company as the ‘Deputy Minister of DAP’ (referring to Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu)?”

Elsewhere, the Cabinet Meeting on Wednesday (July 24) has agreed to retain the existing guidelines which among others, outline that fund-raising activities in school premises are barred from displaying and promoting liquor (brands).

“At the same time, the Cabinet has also taken the position to give due consideration for vernacular schools to receiving financial contributions through the school management board and foundations as has been practiced during previous administrations and has never been disputed by any party,” the Education Ministry pointed out in a media statement

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“Nevertheless, the Cabinet insisted that activities involving liquor brands should not involve Muslim pupils.” – July 27, 2024

Main image credit: sam@ybseni

The post UMNO Youth head, PAS lawmakers slam Guan Eng for calling Fadhlina “PAS education minister” first appeared on Focus Malaysia.