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No News Is Bad News
Sack the useless, clueless Taliban-like education minister Fadhlina
KUALA LUMPUR, July 29, 2024: Someone posted the following message on Facebook:
If religious and race-based malls and airlines can close shop, how does a country governed on race and religion hope to succeed?
That about sums up Malaysia’s continuous socio-economic deteriorating woes in a nutshell - simple, yet realistic and happening in the private sector today.
And to apply the same skewered brainless policies in education, the rot is hastened.
Again, sack the useless and clueless education minister, Fadhlina Sidek, who behaves like a Taliban-like PAS minister and promotes the use of “firearms” and violence in schools.
And also, anti-English Language policies.
She is only good at creating one blunder after another to the detriment of Malaysia’s socio-economic development.
No News Is Bad News reproduces a Finance Twitter news analysis that was reposted by The Coverage and two other news reports:
Clueless Fadhlina Behaves More Like PAS Education Minister Than Unity Government Education Minister
28 July, 2024
After more than 48 hours of pulling hair on how to not offend both Muslims and non-Muslims without looking like a fool, the Education Ministry under the clueless and incompetent leadership of Fadhlina Sidek has decided to maintain the status quo. In short, it is business as usual – vernacular schools can continue to accept donations from beer companies, backtracking from its initial reaction.
Of course, in order not to lose face after Minister Fadhlina foolishly swallowed the hook, line and sinker set up by opposition PAS Islamist party, the ministry says the Cabinet has agreed to retain “existing guidelines”, which restricts against displaying elements linked to alcohol brands in school premises. This means the recent Tiger Beer’s contribution of RM3 million to build a hall for a Chinese school is valid and legal.
But the school charity event held on July 19 and took place at SJK(C) Tche Min in Sungai Pelek, Sepang, which was sponsored by Heineken Malaysia’s Tiger Beer, had been accused by extremist and racist PAS of normalising alcohol in schools due to Tiger’s participation. That had led the education ministry to hastily announce that it will seriously investigate the event.
The brewery company had displayed its Tiger logo during the charity for obvious reason, but not alcohol specifically. Is the Tiger logo a direct representation of alcohol brands? If it is, then Heineken and SJK(C) Tche Min might have committed an offence, and should face the music. However, the education ministry did not say anything about this matter – suggesting no violation had been committed.
Therefore, if both Tiger Beer and the Chinese school had committed no offence, as proven with zero action from the authorities and the ministry, it means the Tiger logo can be displayed. One can debate till the cow comes home whether the company’s logo is a breach against displaying elements linked to alcohol brands as there is “no direct sign” of beer or alcohol elements.
This is where the education ministry got extremely confused, pretending to be confused, or trying to confuse the people after shooting its own foot. If Fadhlina tries to dig her heels in the mud, and continues to weaponise the issue to project her boss – Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim – as a Muslim hero, it will certainly backfire, forcing DAP to retaliate or re-consider its position in the unity government.
As Democratic Action Party (DAP) secretary-general Anthony Loke confidently announced that he will consult the Cabinet to exclude Chinese schools, which depend heavily on public monetary donations to operate – from the half-baked and bias guidelines, it’s hard to imagine how PM Anwar would declare war with the Chinese community and willingly lose 40 DAP MPs in the Parliament.
Anwar’s party – PKR (People’s Justice Party) – has only 31 MPs whilst DAP has 40 in the 82-seat Pakatan Harapan, hence was forced to work with nemesis-turned-ally Barisan Nasional (30 MPs) to form a Unity Government after the Nov 2022 General Election that produced a hung parliament. Without DAP’s 40 seats, the government may collapse – even if it survives, Anwar government will be incredibly fragile.
It’s not rocket science that it is not worthwhile angering 95% Chinese voters just to show that Fadhlina, who got her job as the daughter of the late Dr Siddiq Fadzil, former president of ABIM (Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia) – the same platform which radical Islamist Anwar used to achieve his political ambition – was more Malay and more Muslim than PAS Islamist party.
Hilariously, the Cabinet also decided that while vernacular schools are allowed to continue receiving donations, it must be done through their school administration boards, as has been the practice during previous administrations. Of course, that was how the donations have been channelled since day one. Did the silly education ministry expect contractor Phua Chu Kang to receive the charity?
The third guideline which lends credence to the validity and acceptance of alcohol company such as Tiger Beer in donating to Chinese schools is that no Muslims must be involved in any activities featuring alcohol firms. In other words, the controversy only began after Parti Amanah Negara’s MP Aiman Athirah was present onstage at the fundraising event, holding a mock cheque that showed the Tiger Beer logo.
Essentially, the education ministry says it doesn’t care who donates to the Chinese schools as long as Malay-Muslims are not invited, which the Chinese community is more than happy to comply. From the beginning, the vernacular schools had nothing to do with Malays or Muslims. The minority race Chinese wanted to be left alone so that they can focus on providing quality education to their own community.
Clueless Fadhlina, who behaves more like PAS Education Minister than Unity Government Education Minister, could have easily tackled the trap set up by the radical and extremist Islamist party. Instead of blurting out suddenly and seen as an idiot, she could have kept her mouth shut and discussed behind closed doors with the prime minister and partners like DAP.
She could say everything was in compliance, as has been in practice for the last 30 years. Since the noble programme started in 1994, Tiger Beer has raised over RM413 million, benefiting 542 schools across Malaysia thus far. Carlsberg, on the other hand, has raised a whopping RM568 million since 1987, benefitting 684 Chinese schools. In total, both beer companies had raised RM981 million.
Because the dubious guidelines, which prohibit the acceptance of donations generated from activities such as gambling, as well as the sale of tobacco, drugs and alcohol, was introduced on March 29, 2018 during the previous Barisan Nasional government, even the MCA (Malaysia Chinese Association) would keep quiet. PAS will be unable to explain its own involvement in previous Tiger Beer donations.
Tiger Beer was doing the same charity even when PAS was part of the backdoor regime of Muhyiddin Yassin and Ismail Sabri from March 2020 to November 2022. Why the Islamist party insists it’s an issue now, but not when it was in the government? Fadhlina, if she has an ounce of intelligence or sense, could challenge PAS to fund the vernacular schools if Tiger Beer is prohibited to do its social responsibility.
In addition, the donations to improve the infrastructure of the vernacular schools would also benefit Malay students studying there. Thus, the education ministry could turn the table and accuse the opposition of trying to destroy the Malays seeking education in the Chinese schools. That could change the narrative that PAS is not only anti-Chinese, but is both anti-Chinese and anti-Malays.
She could pass the ball back or attack PAS, but didn’t because she was too obsessed and blinded with Islamisation agenda. When opposition PAS say jump, she could only ask how high. The pathetic and useless education minister’s best achievement was radicalising schools with students carrying firearms, albeit toy guns, while wrapping Palestinian keffiyeh scarf around their heads like militants.
Still, there’s a small time-bomb. Chinese schools have been producing so many talents and instilling fabulous discipline that there are almost 100,000 Malay students enrolled in the Chinese schools – representing 20% of total student population in the same type of schools that PAS accused of being infected with alcohol. The welcoming of vernacular schools to Malay students is a double-edged sword.
Not only sacrifices and generosity have been made by the minority race Chinese to accommodate the Malay students now, leading to a lack of teaching staff and overcrowded classrooms, there could come a time when conservative Malays start demanding vernacular schools follow a set of new pro-Muslim guidelines to the extent the original values of such school are destroyed.
When the vernacular schools are being overwhelmed by Malays scrambled for quality education, the school administration boards and foundations could lose control to the extremists and radicals. If they could interfere now about who can or cannot donate to the schools based on race and religion, they could certainly interfere later on what syllabus can or cannot be taught.
Source : Finance Twitter
We won’t hesitate to quit PN, says Gerakan deputy president
-28 Jul 2024, 09:12 PM
Oh Tong Keong says the party remains firm in its support of fundraising for Chinese schools despite ‘unreasonable threats’ from its allies.
Gerakan deputy president Oh Tong Keong calls out its coalition allies for ‘religious extremism’ and infringing on the rights of non-Muslims. (Facebook pic)
PETALING JAYA: Gerakan’s deputy president said today the party will not hesitate to quit Perikatan Nasional if its coalition allies continue to display religious extremism
and infringe on the rights of non-Muslims in a controversy over funds for Chinese schools.
Oh Tong Keong said Gerakan remains firm in its support and defence of fundraising efforts for Chinese schools despite unreasonable threatsfrom its allies in the coalition.
His comments come in the wake of a controversy over fundraising for Chinese-medium schools, sparked by criticism from PAS over a deputy minister accepting a RM3 million mock cheque bearing a Tiger Beer logo at a fundraising event.
Oh said in a statement: Just as Gerakan had once withdrawn from Barisan Nasional to oppose corruption and abuse of power, we would not hesitate to exit (PN) if our allies continue to exhibit religious extremism and infringe on the rights of non-Muslims.
Earlier today, PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, said his party might not be able to work with Gerakan at the next general election if Gerakan maintains its position on alcohol companies and Chinese schools.
He said Gerakan’s stance on the matter was disappointing.
Yesterday, Gerakan president Dominic Lau said the education ministry should not restrict fundraising activities by certain companies in schools if the government does not allocate sufficient funds to all streams of schools.
Lau said the government should understand and not hinder the long-standing tradition of fundraising activities at Chinese schools.
The Rakyat Post
When the Pahang School Sports Council (MSSP) organized a ping-pong event, its primary goal was to promote sports.
Little did they know that the event would soon become the talk of the town, but for the unexpected star of the show: the beer logo.
The event, which aimed to bring together ping pong enthusiasts among students, was in the spotlight when photos of the venue surfaced on social media.
The images featured the beer logo, which quickly became the topic of discussion on a Kuantan community Facebook group.
Beer Signboard Steals The Show At MSSP Ping Pong Event
The Pahang School Sports Council (MSSP) recently hosted a ping-pong event, but the beer logo displayed at the venue overshadowed the event’s intentions, catching the attention of social media users.
JULY 24, 2024
When the Pahang School Sports Council (MSSP) organized a ping-pong event, its primary goal was to promote sports.
Little did they know that the event would soon become the talk of the town, but for the unexpected star of the show: the beer logo.
The event, which aimed to bring together ping pong enthusiasts among students, was in the spotlight when photos of the venue surfaced on social media.
The images featured the beer logo, which quickly became the topic of discussion on a Kuantan community Facebook group.
The Great Debate: Beer Logo Sparks Divided Opinions
Some pointed out that the presence of the beer logo was insensitive to Muslims, given the religious prohibition on alcohol consumption.
One user playfully suggested, “The venue is cheap… no budget,” accompanied by laughing emojis.
Amidst the light-hearted banter, some users raised concerns that children could be influenced after seeing the beer logo.
Another user commented, “Stupid… there are many other places you can do it… Why choose a place like that… indirectly, you’ve promoted alcohol to kids…”
The Unintended Presence of a Beer Logo at a Student-Focused Event
However, others took a more pragmatic approach, pointing out that the beer logo should not detract from the event’s charitable intentions.
One user astutely observed, “If you go there just to play ping pong and don’t drink, is it wrong? Facebook also has many non-halal sponsors… it’s not an issue… you can even preach here.”
It is important to note that, in all fairness, the beer logo was only visible in a limited section of the venue and not throughout the entire sports hall.
This suggests that the logo’s presence may have been unintentional or an oversight on the organizers’ part rather than an attempt to promote alcohol at a student-focused event, as critics claimed.
Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that there were also signboards of other companies on the premises.
This indicates that the sports hall may have been a multi-purpose venue that hosts various events and accommodates different sponsors.
Corporate Social Responsibility: Balancing Sponsorships and Sensitivities in a Diverse Society
The debate on social media highlighted the complex nature of sponsorships and partnerships in a diverse society.
While it is essential to be mindful of cultural and religious sensitivities, it is equally important to recognize the value of corporate support in facilitating charitable initiatives.
In a multicultural society, finding a balance that allows for the coexistence of different beliefs and practices without any group feeling marginalized or unfairly constrained is essential.
Many established brands in Malaysia, including beer and gaming industries, have a history of supporting various sporting events and community initiatives.
The beer company’s presence at the MSSP charity ping pong event, albeit unintentional, is a reminder of corporate entities’ role in contributing to the greater good.
The Power of Perspective: Focusing on the Positive Impact of Community Initiatives
As the discussion continues to unfold on social media, it is crucial to maintain a balanced perspective.
While the concerns raised by some users are valid and should be acknowledged, it is essential not to let the presence of a logo overshadow the event’s primary purpose.
By engaging in constructive dialogue and embracing a spirit of understanding, we can work towards building a more inclusive and compassionate community, one ping pong match at a time.
This is all the more important given a recent uproar over a beer company donating money to Chinese schools.
Many argue that donations should be judged based on their merits and the positive impact they could have on students’ education rather than focusing solely on the source of funds.
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