KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has stressed that the government will not compromise on any event involving the serving of alcohol or activities that contradict educational values within school premises, including after school hours.
He said that even if a school hall is rented by external parties such as alumni associations, it should not be used for events that violate the nation’s educational rules and philosophy.
“The school environment must be safeguarded...even after school hours, the use of school halls should not be allowed for activities that go against the rules of all schools.
“Even if it is said to be rented by an independent body, if there is alcohol or gambling involved, that is not educating our children. It goes against our own educational concept and philosophy,” Anwar said during the Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was responding to Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari's supplementary query on the claims that alcohol was served during an alumni gathering at a secondary school in Ipoh on September 27.
Anwar added that Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek had informed him of the incident and that tighter guidelines are being considered to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
He clarified that the prohibition is not intended to deny the rights of non-Muslims but to uphold universal values shared by all Malaysians.
“We ask our non-Muslim friends to understand this. It is not about denying their rights, but a school must remain a school, a place for learning and nurturing values.
"I hope our non-Muslim citizens understand this,” Anwar said.
While the government must review the scope of authority over private schools, the principle of prohibiting activities involving alcohol or gambling at government schools should not be compromised.
“I am inclined not to allow such gatherings (with such activities), whether organised by government entities or others, regardless of whether (they have taken place) before or after this,” he said.
