SCHOOLS ARE NOT PLACES TO NORMALISE ALCOHOL

SCHOOLS ARE NOT PLACES TO NORMALISE ALCOHOL

By: Khairul Faizi bin Ahmad Kamil

The nation was shocked by a viral video showing a brawl including chairs being thrown during an alcohol auction held at a Chinese National-Type School (SJKC) in Pontian, Johor. The event was organised within the school grounds, reportedly as a fundraising activity, and was attended by adults who openly consumed alcohol in a space usually reserved for educating young children. This incident has rightly sparked concern among many, myself included.

This is not the first time such an alcohol-related activity has taken place in a school setting. Just last year, a similar controversy erupted in Sepang, Selangor, triggering intense public debate and even spilling over into the national political arena. At that time, the Member of Parliament for Bagan, Lim Guan Eng, harshly criticised the Minister of Education, YB Fadhlina Sidek, merely because she took a cautious stance on school fundraising events that involved alcohol. Lim even accused her of "following PAS's agenda" and reminded her not to act as a “PAS Education Minister.”

Such remarks, in my view, are deeply unfortunate. They reveal that some national leaders are willing to politicise fundamental issues of morality and educational values in order to defend the priorities of certain groups completely disregarding the sentiments of the majority of Malaysians, especially those who are Muslim and strongly oppose any element of alcohol in educational environments.

The core issue is not about who organised the event or who the funds are for. The real question is: Are we willing to let schools institutions meant to shape the character and future of our children be tainted by alcohol culture, just for the sake of raising funds?

To me, the principle must be crystal clear: schools are places for education, not for normalising alcohol. Even if such events are held outside school hours and involve only adults, they still tarnish the image of the school and send a highly dangerous message to students who witness or hear about them.

I strongly urge the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MoE) not only to investigate this incident seriously but also to immediately draft a national guideline that strictly prohibits the use of school premises for any event involving alcohol, gambling, or other morally questionable activities. Yes, education funds must be raised but never at the expense of our society's moral values.

Schools do not belong to one race or one community alone. They belong to all Malaysians, who come from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds. Therefore, any programme organised in schools must respect religious sensitivities and universal moral values, not bow to political pressure or serve the interests of specific groups.

Let us defend the dignity of our education system. Do not allow our children to grow up thinking that alcohol has a place in their learning environment. We must put an end to any and all school activities involving alcohol.

If the Minister of Education is unable to resolve this issue which continues to repeat itself then it would be most appropriate for her to resign.

KFAK