KUALA LUMPUR, October 25 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s statement in Parliament prohibiting the serving of alcohol in public school halls — including those built with funds from the Chinese community — has sparked strong dissatisfaction among Chinese Malaysians.
The community views the ruling as an unnecessary intrusion into long-standing cultural practices, as Chinese school halls have traditionally hosted weddings, temple dinners, and entertainment events involving alcohol since Merdeka without controversy.
Although Anwar clarified that the restriction was not meant to impose Islamic values but to preserve schools as places of learning, critics argue that it undermines cultural harmony. DAP Secretary-General Anthony Loke has reportedly initiated discussions with the Prime Minister to reach a balanced solution that respects both government policy and the Chinese community’s customs.
