“Not about vernacular school funding by breweries but how they’ve been treated by the gov’t in power”

 

I TEND to agree with former DAP Petaling Jaya MP-turned-social activist  Kua Kia Soong that if the government of the day is able to provide adequate funding for Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools, then there is no necessity for them to turn to breweries and tobacco companies for funding.

This is what PAS leader who objected to the funding of Chinese schools should have raised in the first place.

It is the lack of federal funding to vernacular schools especially the Chinese schools that renders them amenable to funding from breweries.

It is not that the breweries are operating clandestinely in the country to prevent them from funding schools and public programmes in the country.

It is just that the funding of schools by breweries sets a bad example as to how schools should be funded.

If the government is fair and balanced in its approach to the funding of schools – especially the vernacular types – the question of breweries funding schools might not arise.

PAS playing wrong cards?

This is what PAS leaders should have brought out in the open rather than using the funding incident in Sepang as a way to criticise the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-government, particularly the Amanah deputy minister who was present in the ceremony.

Rather than raising the issue of the lack of public funding to Chinese schools, she took a defensive approach to the extent of apologising to the incident. So much for the calibre of the Amanah leaders and their political representatives.

I thought PAS with national aspirations is opening up to getting the support of non-Malays. But unfortunately, PAS’ criticism of the funding by the brewery in the case of the Chinese school in Sepang raises questions whether the party leaders really understand issues at hand.

Alternatively, PAS leaders should have questioned the government about its unfair distribution of funds to vernacular schools.

This particular incident might not be a big issue but it raises questions about whether the PAS leadership is prepared to accept the rights of non-Malays in the country.

The party’s top leadership should rein in leaders who are engaged in cheap politics if indeed the Islamist party is serious about soliciting non-Malay support.

Meanwhile, the DAP and MCA leadership as expected used the funding incident to accuse each other of letting down the Chinese community.

DAP leaders simply lacked the moral courage to take Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek to task for defending the government’s circular on funding for schools that forbids donations from breweries and tobacco companies.

DAP unable to secure gov’t funding

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook merely mentioned that he would raise the matter in the cabinet.

It is unfortunate that DAP with 40 MPs is in very weak position in the government. The party leaders are beholden to the government for power, positions and perks.

It might not be appropriate to term DAP as the MCA 2.0. In fact, the party is in a much worse political position than MCA previously.

At least MCA lacked the numbers in the Parliament but DAP which boasts the most number of MPs in the PH coalition has been reduced to a powerless position in the PH-led Madani government.

DAP should not have defended the funding of Chinese vernacular schools by breweries.  Alternatively, the party should have fought for more government funding for Chinese and Tamil schools.

Obviously, funding of Chinese and Tamil schools by breweries or tobacco companies is not good for the image of these schools where children are taught and socialised on acceptable values and morals.

Henceforth, obtaining funding from breweries and tobacco companies for schools might send a wrong message to children.

While billions are spent funding the Bumiputera community, why is the government reluctant to provide the necessary funds for the vernacular schools in the country?

Why are the “champions” of non-Malays rights – the DAP leaders – unable to effectively voice out their concerns and interests?

Ultimately, it is not the question of whether vernacular schools can accept or not funding from breweries but rather the way these schools are treated in the country by the government in power. 

Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.

- Focus Malaysia