PETALING JAYA: Clear guidelines should be made public to allow vernacular schools, particularly Chinese primary and national-type secondary schools, to rent out their halls for community events or private functions in a culturally sensitive manner, says Datuk Chong Sin Woon.
The MCA secretary-general said many Chinese primary and secondary schools rent their halls to associations and for wedding banquets.
“There should be clear rules to guide such activities so that they can continue to operate freely according to cultural norms,” he said when contacted on Friday (Oct 25).
Chong said there were around 890 government-aided Chinese primary schools and 81 national-type secondary schools nationwide, many of which already struggled to maintain facilities and fund school activities.
“For generations, the Chinese community has upheld a spirit of self-reliance by raising their own funds to support education. Renting out school halls for weddings, alumni gatherings, charity events and community functions has long been a key source of income,” he said.
He added that every ringgit earned was channelled back into education to improve classrooms, repair buildings, buy equipment, support student activities and enhance teacher training.
“This model of supporting education through community effort reflects our sense of responsibility and commitment to the nation’s education system,” he said.
A principal from Selangor said, as far as he was aware, there was no specific rule on serving alcohol at private functions held within school premises.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet, on Friday, decided that events held in school halls would continue to follow the Education Ministry’s existing guidelines on the serving of alcohol, and no new rules would be introduced.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the Cabinet has decided that there would be no changes to the current guidelines set by the Education Ministry on the serving of alcoholic drinks. The ministry will issue a statement on the matter.
“The Cabinet has decided that there will be no changes to the current guidelines set by the Education Ministry on the serving of alcoholic drinks. The ministry will issue a statement on the matter.
Some have community halls managed by their school boards or funded by private benefactors. The Education Ministry is aware of this, which is why we have decided that the existing guidelines on events held in community halls will continue to apply.
“The Education Ministry is aware of this, which is why we have decided that the existing guidelines on events held in community halls will continue to apply,” the government spokesman said during his weekly post-Cabinet media briefing.
