DAPSY called upon the officials of the Ministry of Education not to be oversensitive and jump on the bandwagon created by PAS to hurl unfounded and vile accusations against the Chinese vernacular schools. At the same time, DAPSY also urged the Ministry to review inappropriate fundraising guidelines that unfoundedly restrict charity purposes, thus defeating the purpose of supporting education.
Recently, PAS Youth criticized the involvement of a beer company after seeing the company’s logo on a mock cheque in a charity fundraising event held at SJK (C) Tche Min, Sepang, leading to the Ministry of Education’s intervention by ordering an investigation into the event.
Even though PAS Youth exploited the situation to spark controversies, the response from Ministry of Education officials indirectly marred the noble cause of charity for Chinese primary schools and unfairly stigmatized the fundraising event intended solely to support education. As a result, groundless accusations against Chinese primary schools were allowed to propagate, 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.
The fundraising guideline “Surat Pekeliling Ikhtisas Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia Bilangan 3 Tahun 2018” mentioned in the MoE’s statement took effect in March 2018 and was introduced by the previous regime. Some provisions are seemingly out of touch and lack the consideration of diversity and inclusivity, which are the foundations of a multicultural society. Unfortunately, the vile accusations have turned the fundraising event into a scapegoat and an unfortunate prey of the opposition’s racial and religious agenda.
“The MoE officials should be open-minded and try to understand that the fundraising event has been organized for the 30th year. 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.”
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.
“Therefore, 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. 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 digitalization, and so on to truly reform and propel our education system to a greater height.”
All in all, DAPSY calls upon the MoE to review inappropriate fundraising guidelines and stop overacting to unfounded accusations so as to not exclude private enterprises and individuals from contributing to education and the nation-building process.
Ho Chi Yang
DAPSY National Varsity Affairs Bureau Director
