KOTA TINGGI: The sponsorship from an alcoholic beverage company to a Chinese school in Sepang, Selangor, was for a charity concert and not a donation for the school, said Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said the charity concert was organised by the school's parent-teacher association (PTA) and the school board.
"Based on our discussion during the cabinet meeting last Wednesday, it is not a donation from a beer or tobacco company to the school.
"It is a sponsorship for an event (charity concert), organised by the PTA and the school board. It was not about a donation for the school from the alcoholic beverage company to any school, contrary to existing perception.
"There was no mention of contributions from alcohol companies to schools (Chinese schools)."
He said this at a press conference after attending the Rural and Regional Development Ministry's retreat at the Desaru Convention Centre here, today.
On Wednesday, the Education Ministry said it was investigating a recent report that a school had organised a charity programme that involved contributions from an alcoholic beverage company.
The ministry said it viewed the matter seriously and further investigation was being carried out.
Its minister Fadhlina Sidek reminded all school management boards to comply with the guidelines when accepting any donations.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook, who is also DAP secretary-general, said the donations to Chinese primary schools should not be an issue as they had been giving funds for decades.
He also said such donations had never been an issue and had been organised for the past 30 years.
On July 19, Sepang member of parliament Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu said she was not informed about contributors to the construction of a hall for SJK(C) Tche Min, which allegedly included a beer company.
A post on the Pusat Khidmat Rakyat Parlimen Sepang Facebook page said Aiman Athirah was aware of viral photos showing her, other contributors, and a mock cheque for a RM3 million contribution from a beer company at an event at the school.