Previously, we shared how Parit Member of Parliament (MP) Ustaz Muhammad Ismi Mat Taib urged the authorities to investigate and take action against an event held at a school.
This comes after reports claimed that alcohol was served to guests on the school grounds in Ipoh, Perak.
The Prime Minister stressed that alcohol and gambling activities are not allowed in school halls
Following the incident, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim addressed the issue, stressing that activities involving alcohol and gambling are not permitted in school halls, according to Harian Metro.
Replying to the Parit MP’s question on the issue in the Dewan Rakyat, Anwar explained that such actions go against the concept and philosophy of national education, adding that school halls should never be used for activities that violate school regulations.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim
“It has generated deep unhappiness within the Chinese community”
Former Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng later responded to Anwar’s remarks, claiming that the Chinese community was unhappy with what was said in Parliament about banning alcohol on school grounds.
In his statement, Lim said the comments had “generated deep unhappiness” among the Chinese community, especially since many of these public halls were built entirely with community-funded contributions.
“Where will such restrictions end?”
The DAP chairperson took another swipe, pointing out that the Chinese community doesn’t share Anwar’s view that the alcohol ban wasn’t meant to impose Islamic values or restrict the rights of non-Muslims, but to maintain schools as places of learning for children.
“This customary practice of allowing alcohol to be served in events like Chinese weddings, temple dinners or entertainment events in Chinese public school halls outside school activities without student involvement, has continued undisturbed since Merdeka in 1957,” Guan Eng wrote.
He added that the Chinese community’s frustration comes from Anwar seemingly yielding to extremists and racists by disrupting a harmless tradition that has never caused issues or offended the Muslim community.
Lim Guan Eng
“Will the next target after alcohol be pork?”
Lim, who is also the MP for Bagan, added that Chinese primary schools are widely recognised for their excellence in education, noting that their students aren’t exposed to alcohol and are generally known for their good moral character and strong values.
“Cases of rape, sodomy, or sexual abuse involving children in Chinese schools are extremely rare, if they happen at all. Even when PAS was in power, they never interfered with Chinese primary schools, and activities held in school halls continued as usual,” he added.
He then questioned if pork would become the next target after alcohol, since it’s already banned in government institutions.
“Will pork be the next thing they go after? Since it’s already banned in government institutions, will Chinese primary schools also be banned from serving pork at traditional events like Chinese weddings, temple dinners, or entertainment functions?”
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know down in the comments!
