Zahid said the brand, Tiger Beer, had only sponsored a charity concert for a fundraiser, and did not directly channel any funds to the school, Berita Harian reported.

He said the concert was organised by the parent-teacher association and board of directors of the school.

“There was no contribution from the alcohol (brand) to any school, contrary to the perception that has arisen,” Zahid, who is also the Umno president, was quoted as saying.

PAS recently took issue with deputy housing and local government minister Aiman Athirah Sabu for receiving a mock cheque for RM3 million bearing Tiger Beer’s logo at a fundraiser for SJK(C) Tche Min in Sungai Pelek, Selangor.

On Monday, the education ministry said it was investigating the incident, and reminded schools to adhere to the guidelines issued in 2018, which prohibit accepting donations generated from activities such as gambling, as well as the sale of tobacco, drugs and alcohol.

Unity government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil later said the education ministry was tasked with clarifying whether Chinese schools can receive donations from alcohol-making companies, after the matter was raised in the Cabinet meeting.

Tiger Beer yesterday denied ever giving donations to schools, saying its role in the recent controversial school fundraiser only involved the performances by local artistes at the concert.

Deputy education minister Wong Kah Woh previously pointed out that Tiger Beer, which is owned by Heineken Malaysia Bhd, had hosted these fundraisers for 30 years and reduced Putrajaya’s financial burden while enabling vernacular schools to upgrade their infrastructure.