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By DayakDaily Team KUCHING, Oct 26: Sarawak rights activist Peter John Jaban has questioned the ban on serving alcoholic beverages at events held at school halls—asking if the federal government assumed that ‘wild, alcohol-fuelled gatherings’ were being held at such premises. In a statement, Peter said that nobody is campaigning for the consumption of alcohol in schools. However, in many parts of rural Sarawak, school halls are more than just centres of learning, as they are also the heart of the community, used for gatherings and fundraising dinners to repair damaged classrooms and facilities. “Do we not believe that our school administrations can be trusted to regulate the consumption of alcohol wisely? Do we really believe that alumni associations are renting school premises to have wild, alcohol-fuelled gatherings?” he asked. He also called for the federal government to be transparent and consistent on the ban on serving alcoholic beverages at events held in school halls and questioned whether the directive applies uniformly across all schools, including Chinese vernacular schools, or whether certain schools are exempted. “Is this rule meant for all schools, or will Chinese schools be exempted? If there are exceptions, Sarawakian communities deserve to know why the same flexibility cannot be given to our rural schools,” he said. He also questioned whether the rule was formulated with an understanding of the unique cultural and logistical realities faced by rural Sarawakian communities, noting that such policies should be applied with flexibility and respect for local conditions. Peter elaborated that alcohol is an important custom for the indigenous communities of Sarawak and Sabah, used to welcome visitors and in traditional rituals, as well as being a valuable product and a key part of their tourism offering. He also warned that rigid enforcement could hinder Parent-Teacher Associations (PIBGs) from raising much-needed funds to maintain rural schools, given that government allocations are often delayed or insufficient. At the same time, he also called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to address more pressing issues in schools, such as bullying and violence, due to the rising number of cases reported nationwide. “These are far greater threats to our children’s education and national values than community dinners held to raise funds for school repairs,” he said. On Oct 23, Anwar stressed that the government will not compromise on any event involving the serving of alcohol or activities that contradict educational values within school premises, including after school hours. He said that even if a school hall is rented by external parties such as alumni associations, it should not be used for events that violate the nation’s educational rules and philosophy. — DayakDaily
