GOMBAK: A top Umno leader has put Perikatan Nasional in the hot seat over the issue of donations from alcohol or tobacco companies to vernacular schools.
Its vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin questioned the opposition on why the pact did not do anything to stop the practice of vernacular schools receiving donations from alcohol and gambling industries when they were in power.
"If it is not right, why didn't they stop this practice when they were the government?" Khaled, who is also the Defence Minister, said.
He said this in response to the criticism by the opposition on the issue surrounding Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu's school donation controversy.
Khaled said it was practised by the governments in the past allowing alcohol and gambling companies to contribute to vernacular schools.
"Having that said, we believe that money from gambling and alcohol should not be used to contribute to mosques.
"We give it to temples, give it to vernacular schools. It was practised then," he said.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke previously said that donations to Chinese primary schools should not be an issue as they had been giving funds for decades.
He also said such donations were never an issue and have been in place for the past 30 years.
Aiman Athirah was recently under scrutiny after she was seen receiving a mock cheque for RM3 million bearing a liquor company's logo at a fundraising event for SJK(C) Tche Min in Sungai Pelek, Selangor.
The Education Ministry on the other hand said it viewed the matter seriously and is investigating the matter further.
Its minister Fadhlina then reminded all school management boards to comply with the guidelines when accepting any donations.
She said while the ministry is open to all forms of contributions and crowdfunding, schools must follow guidelines for organising events and accepting donations.