A Sarawakian activist has called on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to resolve recurring issues plaguing schools, such as bullying, instead of entertaining “controversies” drummed up by the opposition.
Peter John Jaban said violence in schools and moral decay among students were “far greater threats” to the education of children and national values than the matter of alcohol served at dinners held to raise funds for school repairs.
“The prime minister needs to stop pandering to the string of complaints by PAS representatives,” he said in a statement, referring to the criticisms the party had raised over the serving of alcohol on Malaysia Airlines flights, functions and fundraising dinners at schools.
“He needs to make clear that the nation’s educational rules and philosophy revolve around religious and racial tolerance.”
On Thursday, Anwar said that alcohol must not be served at schools, including at events held there after classes end.
Anwar said this at the Dewan Rakyat when responding to a question from Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, the PAS MP for Pasir Mas, about alcoholic drinks that were allegedly served at a recent reunion dinner organised by the alumni of a school in Ipoh.
Fadhli said that although schoolchildren were not involved, the event organisers allowed alcohol to be brought into the school’s premises, which he said violated education ministry guidelines.
On Friday, PKR‘s Jimmy Puah urged the government to reconsider any prohibition on alcoholic beverages being served at events held in public school halls, saying the policy could adversely affect vernacular schools, many of which depend on hall rentals to sustain themselves financially.
The Terbau MP said said while the government’s move may be well-intentioned to preserve the sanctity of the school environment, a “one-size-fits-all” implementation risks overlooking Malaysia’s multicultural realities and could create a challenge for non-Muslim vernacular schools in terms of resources and autonomy.
Commenting on the controversy, Peter said that nobody was actively campaigning for the consumption of alcohol in schools.
He said that in many parts of rural Sarawak, school halls and their compounds were not just learning centres, but also the “heart of the community” used for gatherings and fundraising dinners to repair damaged classrooms and facilities.
“Do we not believe that our school administrations can be trusted to regulate consumption of alcohol wisely? Do we really believe that alumni associations are renting school premises to have wild, alcohol-fuelled gatherings?” he said.
