DAPSY: Review inappropriate fundraising guidelines that restrict charity purposes

 

A DAPSY leader has called for the Education Ministry (MOE) to review inappropriate fundraising guidelines that restrict charity purposes, thus defeating the purpose of supporting education.

DAPSY national varsity affairs bureau director Ho Chi Yang said this in light of allegations that a Chinese vernacular school in Sepang, Selangor had received donations from a company that produces alcoholic beverages.

Ho said some of the provisions in fundraising guidelines mentioned in the MOE’s statement, which was introduced by the previous administration, seem to be “out of touch” and lack the consideration of diversity and inclusivity of a multicultural society.

“The MOE officials should be open-minded and try to understand that the fundraising event has been organised for the 30th year,” Ho pointed out in a statement on Tuesday (July 23).

“Besides, the MOE should also encourage more private companies and initiatives to raise funds and support schools across the country.

There is no need to overreact, for the involvement of beer companies in fundraising events does not mean selling alcohol in schools.

“Even though PAS’s malicious accusations are deliberate provocations, the officials did not respond properly and unintendedly tarnished the vernacular schools nationwide.”

Ho was referring to Selangor PAS Youth chief Mohamed Sukri Omar’s criticism of the fundraising event.

Taking to Facebook, Sukri had said that while the school’s initiative to raise funds for the construction of a hall was praiseworthy, it was tarnished by Tiger’s participation, and that it was akin to normalising alcohol in schools.

On the Islamist party’s involvement in the matter, Ho said while PAS Youth had exploited the situation to spark controversies, the response from the MOE officials had indirectly marred the noble cause of charity for Chinese primary schools.

“It had also unfairly stigmatised the fundraising event intended solely to support education and as a result, groundless accusations against Chinese primary schools were allowed to propagate, thus creating false impressions that a beer company sold alcohol in schools, or that the fundraising event promoted drinking culture to students.

“All of these severely undermined the efforts of private companies to support education and potentially hindered the development of education in the long run,” he lamented.

Ho went on to stress that contributions from private enterprises, as long as legal, should be encouraged to incorporate the private sector as part of the nation-building process by supporting education and investing in the next generation.

“There is absolutely no need for the MOE to make a mountain out of a molehill by excessively intervening or imposing restrictions on lawful donations and fundraising events,” he reckoned.

“Instead, as one of the most crucial ministries in the country, the MOE should focus on improving the quality of education, repairing dilapidated school infrastructures, addressing teacher shortages, improving teachers’ welfare, promoting educational digitalisation, and so on to truly reform and propel our education system to a greater height.”

On Monday (July 22), the MOE in a statement said educational institutions must adhere to existing guidelines on the organisation of programmes and the acceptance of donations.

It said these guidelines prohibit donations derived from gambling, tobacco, drugs, alcohol, and similar activities that could negatively impact students’ intellectual, spiritual, emotional, and physical development.

The ministry welcomed efforts by schools to organise programmes and seek donations for development purposes in line with the Community Owned School initiative but stressed these must be carried out in accordance with the guidelines issued in 2018. – Focus Malaysia