Breweries and gambling companies have been “assisting” school students since the BN era; but why didn't Umno Youth strongly “protest” against it back then…?
It looks like DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke’s “defiant” statement recently that it’s permissible for beer companies to sponsor events in Chinese vernacular schools (but without displaying their “logo”) may have rubbed Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh up the wrong way!
In a recent Facebook post, it seems like the vocal Merlimau assemblyman who has been a pivotal figure in the controversial boycott campaign against KK Super Mart has now trained his guns at DAP - which happens to be Umno’s “partner” in the unity government.
Snidely calling the DAP chief the new "acting education minister", the firebrand Umno Youth leader then went on to ask sarcastically: “So after this, are you all going to invite ‘gambling’ firms to organise events in schools?”
However, to his credit, the DAP leader who is also the federal transport minister has been unfazed by all the “noise”, preferring to focus instead on his duties to the nation.
In fact, it appears like the young, fiery Umno leader may have finally found his match in the unflinching, no-nonsense DAP chief; this may be in stark contrast to his party's previous partners in BN such as MCA who were often accused of kowtowing to "big brother!"
Meanwhile, in an earlier post Akmal had also taken a swipe at Gerakan president Dominic Lau by highlighting the latter’s recent call not to ban beer companies from donating to vernacular schools as they do not receive equal funding from the federal government.
Perhaps, it must have been the culmination of all that which had prompted Akmal to issue a rallying call to the Malay-Muslim community in the country to “unite” now - regardless of their political affiliations; but the question that may be on many people’s lips is: is it to “unite” to topple Anwar’s PH-led unity government - by using DAP as the scapegoat? Just like in the infamous “Sheraton Move?”
Interestingly, last Tuesday (July 30) another prominent DAP leader Dr Kelvin Yii had lashed out at the Umno Youth chief for singling out his party over fundraising for Chinese schools involving breweries when it was a collective cabinet decision by the Madani government.
Actually, it's not the first time that Umno Youth together with other Malay-Muslim parties such as Bersatu and PAS have found themselves on the same page; one recent episode that springs to mind is, of course, BlackRock’s involvement in the privatisation of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad - a highly sensitive topic among Muslims here - which is understandable given the global asset management company’s open support for the Israeli regime.
But unlike the BlackRock or even the KK Super Mart controversies which had clearly hurt Muslim sensitivities in this country, what many annoyed non-Malays here may be entitled to ask is: “Why are some ‘non-Chinese’ leaders now openly meddling in Chinese school matters… has it anything to do with them?!”
In fact, to many non-Malays it may be somewhat perplexing that PAS, Bersatu and Umno should come out with all guns blazing over the issue of breweries and gambling companies carrying out their corporate social responsibility (CSR) duties which the latter have claimed is wrong and would have negative influence on school students.
As for the Umno Youth leader’s “allegation” that in future gambling firms may be invited to sponsor charitable events in schools, the truth is such firms are already actively engaged in noble charity programs - especially in helping underprivileged people including school students; this is in addition to the hefty “sin tax” they are paying to the government!
“Note: Over 6,000 students have received various educational assistance, as part of Magnum’s effort to help enhance education excellence in the country” - Magnum4D.my
Meanwhile, recently even former Umno cabinet minister Khairy Jamaluddin admitted that the country’s National Sports Council (NSC) had received funds from another gambling company (Sports Toto) during his tenure as youth and sports minister; yet, ironically, it would appear like neither Umno Youth nor PAS which was an integral part of PN’s mainly Malay-Muslim government back then, may have raised any serious objection to it?
Thus, given the reality on the ground here, what many may be tempted to ask is: is the call to galvanise Malay-Muslims to “unite” for the sake of race and religion in the face of “challenges” from beer and gambling companies a serious one… or is it merely a smokescreen for political mileage?
Information source:
Malaysiakini, Facebook Dr Akmal Saleh and Magnum4D
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