GEORGE TOWN: PAS has accused its ally Gerakan of overreacting to the Islamist party’s criticism of a fundraising event at a Chinese school that received donations linked to an alcohol brand.
Penang PAS chief Muhammad Fauzi Yusoff said its criticism was over the presence of a Muslim deputy minister, Aiman Athirah Sabu, at the event.
“Any true Muslim would criticise Aiman Athirah’s presence at a fundraising event where a mock cheque bearing the logo of a brewery company was received by the (deputy) minister,” said Muhammad Fauzi, referring to the Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister.
“That is the only issue here, as PAS has never questioned the funding of non-Muslim schools or brought up the issue of the government’s ruling on the issue.
“If it were a non-Muslim minister accepting the mock cheque, this controversy would not have erupted.
“As such, it is baffling why Gerakan is blowing this issue out of proportion and threatening to quit Perikatan Nasional,” Muhammad Fauzi said when contacted.
PAS had criticised Aiman Athirah, who is also Sepang MP, after she attended an event to raise funds for a new hall at a Chinese school in Sungai Pelek, Sepang, on July 14.
During the event, she appeared on stage with school officials and donors behind a RM3mil mock cheque bearing the logo of a beer company.
Gerakan president Datuk Dominic Lau then issued a statement saying that alcohol or tobacco companies should not be prevented from donating to Chinese schools.
Following PAS’ criticism of Aiman Athirah, Gerakan deputy president Oh Tong Keong said the party would not hesitate to leave the Perikatan coalition, of which it is a member with PAS and Bersatu.
He said Gerakan will not stay within a coalition if it is forced to bow to conservative and unreasonable demands from “certain parties”.
His statement caused PAS leaders such as election director Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor and vice-president Datuk Amar Abdullah to respond that Gerakan could go its own way.
Oh’s statement also invited criticism within his own party, with youth wing secretary-general Andy Tan asking if the deputy president’s views represented the party’s official stand.
Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, meanwhile, has offered to mediate between Gerakan and PAS.
He told reporters that Perikatan cannot afford to lose Gerakan as the alliance represents a multiracial society.
“What we need is to seek an amicable solution to the fundraising issue, which could be solved with a discussion among the parties,” said Wan Ahmad Fayhsal.
Speaking to reporters in Seremban yesterday, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek urged everyone to move on from the issue after the Cabinet issued its latest statement.
On July 26, the ministry said the Cabinet had decided that it would consider allowing vernacular schools to receive funds through their boards of directors and foundations, including from activities involving alcohol brands.
It said the stand has been the practice of several administrations without having been disputed before.
However, the Cabinet stressed that activities involving alcoholic brands must not include Muslim students.
The Cabinet also agreed to uphold existing guidelines that prohibit fundraising donation events that display and promote alcohol on school premises.
“I think the decision taken by the Cabinet and the follow-up statement issued by the Education Ministry is clear on this. I do not think there are any more outstanding issues,” Fadhlina said after visiting Tuanku Muhriz College here.
“As far as I am concerned, we should stop such polemics and focus on more important and bigger issues,” she added.
