Just when things seemed to be a bit quiet in the country, a new “3R” controversy had erupted last week - thanks to PAS; this time it involved sponsorship for a Chinese school event by a beer company!
The matter blew up after an online photo popped up showing Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government Aiman Athirah at a Chinese school charity event in Sungai Pelek, Sepang last Friday (July 18) purportedly sponsored by the popular Tiger Beer.
Following that, Selangor PAS Youth chief Sukri Omar had then alleged that the beer company’s involvement in the charity event that was attended by a federal deputy minister could have been construed as “normalising” alcohol in schools!
Not surprisingly, Sukri’s comment drew an angry response from DAP's youth wing (Dapsy) which slammed the Islamist party for condemning Aiman who is also the AMANAH Wanita chief, for her attendance in the event.
Its National Varsity Affairs Bureau director Ho Chi Yang pointed out that the annual fundraising event, now in its 30th year, has raised substantial funds for Chinese primary schools across Malaysia, improving their facilities and providing a better learning environment for countless students.
Furthermore, Ho stressed that the objective of the dinner was solely “to support education and demonstrate community solidarity”, before adding that in any case drinking is a personal choice and PAS must respect the lifestyles of non-Muslims and the Chinese community.
Wasn't the mock cheque presentation by the sponsor, a beer company, held for a “Chinese school” and not for a ‘sekolah kebangsaan’?”
He then went on to “educate" the PAS youth leader that as long as the funding source is legal, there should be no issue, and that PAS should not impose its narrow views and religious agenda on other communities in a multiracial country.
Meanwhile, as expected, the statement by the state PAS youth leader has seemed to have ruffled a lot of feathers in the country, especially amongst many non-Muslims, for whom drinking liquor in moderation may be permitted and is not a religious offence.
For the record, in Malaysia, companies associated with gambling, beer and cigarettes pay taxes to the government which then uses the funds to pay its civil servants' salaries and development expenditure as well as for MPs' salaries - including those from PAS!
Many may then be entitled to ask: does it mean that salaries for civil servants and Muslim MPs from “sin taxes” are halal but donations for schools from those companies are haram? So much so, Muslim government officials cannot attend any public event where one of the sponsors may be a beer or gaming company carrying out their corporate social responsibility (CSR) duties?
What's more, by saying that since those companies' activities are forbidden for the Muslims should PAS then demand that the so-called “sin tax” from alcohol, cigarettes and gambling be utilised only for non-Muslims?
Some will also be quick to highlight that vernacular schools use the donations from sponsors for the welfare and benefit of their students; moreover, the donors are only sponsoring and not “promoting” their drinks to teachers and students by setting up kiosks in the school compound - which will be wrong!
In fact, there will be others who may wonder exactly how sponsorship from beer companies could harm the students, be it physically, intellectually or even spiritually? Will they become influenced just by seeing the donor's business logo - the tiger - a favourite moniker among some of the nation's sports teams!
Then, there are some who will argue that all licensed companies in this country have their rights under the federal constitution to donate to a worthy cause - like for the smooth running of vernacular schools; as such, will it be fair to deprive those schools of this vital source of funds since they do not get equal funding from the government?
Realistically, can vernacular schools afford to “pick and choose” their donors - when their leaking hall or roof needs urgent repair?
Lastly, regardless of what the state or federal government's guidelines may say, for as long as donations are received from legal, tax paying businesses, some may point out that any prohibitions against it may be deemed to be unconstitutional; this is more so when a precedent had been set where the sponsorship was freely allowed for thirty years including by the previous Barisan Nasional administration - when the deputy education minister was said to be from MCA!
Of course, if the government had made it a noble policy to allocate equal funding for vernacular schools, so that they don't have to be dependent on funds from the private sector, would this issue have cropped up?
In short, this unsavoury episode appears to have underscored the need for tolerance and empathy within the context of a multiracial and multi-religious society where the rights of all communities must be acknowledged and respected (including by the authorities); this will be crucial for ensuring the peaceful and harmonious co-existence of the diverse races in the country.
Meanwhile, it must be said that the PAS youth leader’s controversial comments on the beer sponsorship saga may have won him a big round of applause from the Malay-Muslim community, but one thing seems guaranteed; his Islamist party is sure to have lost the goodwill (and votes) of many non-Muslims in the country!
Note: The Cabinet has since clarified that vernacular schools can continue to receive all donations through their administration board; however, there should be no display of alcohol brands within school premises, and furthermore, Muslims must not be involved in programmes featuring alcohol firms.
Information source: Harapan Dail and Malay Mail
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