He said the policy could adversely affect vernacular schools, many of which depend on hall rentals to sustain themselves financially.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told the Dewan Rakyat that alcohol must not be served in schools, including at events held after school hours. He also said the education ministry was reviewing its regulations on the matter.
Puah, from PKR, said while the government’s move may be well-intentioned to preserve the sanctity of the school environment, a “one-size-fits-all” implementation risks overlooking Malaysia’s multicultural realities and could create a challenge for non-Muslim vernacular schools in terms of resources and autonomy.
“It is important to clarify that non-Muslim vernacular schools have never made alcohol consumption part of their culture or encouraged students to drink,” he said in a statement.
“What they are asking for is simply the right to rent out their halls after school hours, when no students are present, to private groups for events.
“If such events include the lawful and moderate serving of alcohol, they should not be automatically prohibited.”
Puah said the policy would be understandable if it applied primarily to national schools, which are predominantly attended by Malay and Muslim students and where religious sensitivities must be respected.
However, he said, Malaysia’s vernacular education system is diverse. Chinese primary schools, Chinese secondary schools, and independent Chinese high schools differ from national schools in terms of student demographics, administrative structures and cultural backgrounds.
He noted that many of these schools receive limited or no government funding, and rely heavily on community fundraising.
“Hall rentals are one of their key income sources. These funds are used for building maintenance, upgrading teaching materials, teacher training, and even financial aid for underprivileged students.
“If the government imposes a blanket ban on alcohol consumption at rented events under a uniform administrative policy, it would effectively cut off a major revenue stream and restrict their ability to raise funds lawfully and independently,” he said.
Puah said such a policy should not be unilaterally decided by the federal government or rushed into implementation. Instead, it should be developed through consultation and consensus.
He urged the education ministry and the Prime Minister’s Department to engage stakeholders from the vernacular education sectors, including Dong Jiao Zong and independent school representatives, to formulate operational guidelines that reflect the multicultural society.
“Only through understanding and consultation can any such policy gain genuine public acceptance, instead of provoking division or a backlash,” he said