Anwar S School Hall Alcohol Ban Upsets Chinese Community Guan Eng

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DAP chairperson Lim Guan Eng has taken a swipe at Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s statement in Parliament that alcohol should not be served in public halls built within school compounds - including those funded by the Chinese community.
Lim claimed in a statement that Anwar’s remarks had stirred up a hornet’s nest and frustration among Chinese Malaysians, as the move was seen as an unnecessary intrusion into long-standing customs.
The Bagan MP pointed out that Chinese community halls within vernacular schools have, for decades, hosted weddings, temple dinners, and entertainment events where alcohol was traditionally served - all held outside school hours and without student involvement.
“The unhappiness of the Chinese community is rooted in why Anwar allowed himself to dance to the tune of the extremists and racists by interfering, disrupting, and disturbing a customary arrangement that has not caused controversy, or impacted in any negative manner, on the Muslim community.
ADS“Even when PAS was in government, PAS never interfered in Chinese primary schools and such activities continued undisturbed at Chinese school halls,” he said.
Lim argued that the prime minister’s stance - though couched as an effort to preserve the sanctity of educational institutions - appeared to pander to “extremist and racist” sentiments.
“After all, Chinese primary schools are widely renowned as educational institutions of excellence, and their students are not exposed to alcohol and have turned out to possess good moral character and ethical values. 
“The number of rapes, sodomy, or sexual abuses of children in Chinese schools is low, if any at all, amongst all types of schools,” said Lim.
‘Where does it end?’
Anwar, during Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, said his preference is for alcohol not to be served on school grounds, but noted it could only be enforced in government schools.
He also stressed that this was not to restrict the rights of non-Muslims, but to uphold schools as places of education for children.
Lim, however, questioned where the restrictions might end, raising concerns that future prohibitions could extend to serving pork at community functions.
“Since pork is banned in government institutions, will Chinese primary schools also see a ban on serving pork at such customary functions like Chinese weddings, temple dinners, and entertainment events?” said Lim.
Further, Lim said DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke understood the community’s concerns and has engaged directly with Anwar to seek an “acceptable solution” that would allow the Chinese community to continue their traditional and customary practices at the Chinese primary school halls.
He added that Loke had previously succeeded in ensuring that top SPM students were granted matriculation placements and outstanding STPM students gained admission to their preferred university courses.
“We hope this issue can be resolved in the same spirit of fairness and understanding,” Lim said. - Mkini

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