No review, exemptions for school donation guidelines, says Fadhlina

 

Education minister Fadhlina Sidek said existing guidelines were ‘neither too difficult to comply with nor a hindrance’ to schools obtaining donations. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: 

The education ministry will not review or grant exemptions for the guidelines on donations given to schools, including for vernacular schools.

Its minister Fadhlina Sidek said all schools must adhere to the existing guidelines, which she described as 

neither too difficult to comply with nor a hindrance

 to schools obtaining donations.

We still welcome all forms of donations, but they must follow the guidelines,

 she said.

This means there must be a mechanism in place to convey the message of shared education and schools belonging to the community,

 she said after an event at Dewan Besar MPM here today.

She was asked whether the ministry would grant vernacular schools an exemption from complying with the existing guidelines that prohibit the acceptance of donations from activities such as gambling and the sale of alcohol.

This comes after PAS took issue with deputy housing and local government minister Aiman Athirah Sabu receiving a mock check for RM3 million bearing Tiger Beer’s logo at a fundraiser for SJK(C) Tche Min in Sungai Pelek, Selangor, recently.

Selangor PAS Youth chief Sukri Omar said the school’s initiative to raise funds for the construction of a hall was praiseworthy but claimed it was tarnished by Tiger’s participation, and that it was akin to normalising alcohol in schools.

Aiman, who is also the Sepang MP and Wanita Amanah chief, later said she was not informed about the contributors until she arrived at the fundraiser.

A police report was also lodged against two Facebook users for allegedly defaming Aiman through a picture featuring her face next to a can of beer, with Amanah’s logo superimposed on it.

Yesterday, the education ministry said it was probing the incident. It also reminded schools to adhere to the existing guidelines, issued in 2018, which prohibit the acceptance of donations generated from activities such as gambling, as well as the sale of tobacco, drugs, and alcohol.

Deputy education minister Wong Kah Woh accused PAS of distorting the facts concerning the fundraiser with the intention of causing a stir among the Malay community for its own political gain.

He pointed out that Tiger, which is owned by Heineken Malaysia Bhd, had hosted these fundraisers for Chinese vernacular schools for 30 years and reduced Putrajaya’s financial burden while enabling the schools to upgrade their infrastructure. - FMT