KUALA LUMPUR: The Cabinet has agreed that Chinese school halls managed by respective school boards are unaffected by the liquor ban where the halls are allowed to lease for wedding dinners and fund-raising events.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke told Sin Chew Daily that the liquor ban is only applicable to national schools.

However, as the liquor ban has caused the Chinese community to feel unease, several Chinese ministers raised the matter with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the Cabinet today.

The situation for Chinese primary schools (SJKC) and secondary schools (SMJK) is unique as the school halls are leased for dinner events to generate income.

After some discussion, the Cabinet decided that Chinese schools are allowed to continue with the practice of leasing the school hall to outsiders for community dinners and wedding dinners where alcohol beverages may be served.

Loke, who is also DAP’s secretary-general, said Anwar raised the matter in the Cabinet and said the ban was applicable to national primary and secondary schools only.

He said several Chinese ministers had shared their views with the prime minister, including himself, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.

They conveyed the concern and unease of the Chinese community in the Cabinet meeting.

“We explained to the Cabinet that Chinese schools are government schools but the school halls are built with funds raised through activities managed by the school board. The board manages the leasing of school halls to support the school in its operating expenditure,” he said.

Loke said Umno ministers had also shared their views on this issue, and they understood the reason for Chinese schools to lease their halls for dinner events.

During the question-and-answer session on Thursday’s Dewan Rakyat sitting, Anwar replied to PAS’ Pasir Mas Member of Parliament Ahmad Fadhli Shaari that even if a school hall is rented by external parties, it should not be used for activities involving alcohol or gambling, as schools must remain places of learning.

Anwar added that the ban was not meant to deny non-Muslim rights but to uphold the universal values of education.

Anwar’s remark had “stirred a hornet’s nest” causing the Chinese community to feel uneasy over interruptions in a decades-old social practice, according to DAP adviser Lim Guan Eng.

Datuk Lim Kah Chuan, president of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Hua Zong), said the liquor ban might affect Chinese primary schools in raising funds to support the schools.

He also said Chinese primary school halls are often the only venues for public events in rural areas involving large crowds.

Chinese primary school halls play a crucial role in the community as a place for educational, cultural and social events, he said.

Cheah Lek Aee, president of the United Chinese School Teachers’ Association (Jiao Zong), said such ban would affect the development of Chinese primary schools in the country.

“Without sufficient funds from the government, many Chinese primary schools have to rely on rental income generated from leasing of school halls for operating expenditure, maintenance and extracurricular activities.

“It is a must for Chinese primary schools to do so,” he said.