马来西亚交通部长陆兆福驳斥了社交媒体上关于学生在校友会联欢暨百年校庆晚宴上被迫端酒的近期传言，称这些指控是对他发起的政治动机攻击。
Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook has dismissed a recent claim on social media that students were forced to serve alcohol at an old boys’ association reunion and centenary dinner, calling the allegations a politically motivated attack against him.
身兼民主行动党秘书长的陆兆福也是圣保罗书院（St Paul’s Institution）的校友，他声称据称上传该帖子的个人一直在寻找一切可能的机会攻击他。
The DAP secretary general, who is also a former student of St Paul’s Institution, claimed the individual who allegedly uploaded the post had been looking for every possible opportunity to attack him.
陆兆福表示：“该名个人在社交媒体帖子中特别提到，我是圣保罗校友会（OPA）晚宴的主宾，并且民主行动党其他民选代表当时也在场。”
“In the social media post, the individual specifically mentioned that I was the guest of honour at the Old Paulian Association (OPA) dinner and that other elected representatives from the DAP were also present,” Loke said.
他说：“其意图显然是在影射我们允许此类活动发生，并且据称允许学生接触酒杯是对学校的不尊重。”
“The intention was clearly to insinuate that we had allowed such activities to take place and that we had disrespected the school by supposedly allowing students to handle wine glasses,” he said.
陆兆福表示，他已准备好面对任何想要在政策或政治问题上挑战他的人，而他的对手不应将无辜的学生和老师卷入此类事情中。
Loke said he was prepared to face anyone who wished to challenge him on policies or political matters and that his opponents should not drag innocent students and teachers into such matters.
“我本人出席了该晚宴，我可以作证，主办方在任何时候都从未指示学生处理酒精饮料或参与任何涉及酒精的活动。
“I was personally present at the dinner and I can testify that the organisers never, at any time, instructed students to handle alcoholic beverages or participate in any activity involving alcohol.
他说：“校长、前校长、老师和学生参加年度晚宴一直是我们的长期传统。”
“The participation of the school principal, former principals, teachers and students in the annual dinner has always been part of our long-standing tradition,” he said.
陆兆福表示，让学生参与的目的是为了保持校友会与学校之间的紧密联系。
Loke said the purpose of involving the students was to maintain a close connection between the alumni association and the schools.
他说，这也是为了让学生明白，他们的学校之所以能够生存、发展并持续运营这么多年，是因为历届校友的不断捐助与支持。
He said this was also to allow students to understand that their schools have been able to survive, develop and continue operating for so many years because of the continuous contributions and support of former students.
他说：“这也是为了向他们灌输同样的感恩回馈精神。校友会与学校之间的这种联系极其重要，”并补充说，通过这些活动筹集的资金已用于学校的发展、维护和其他教育需求。
“It is also to instil in them the same spirit of giving back. This connection between the alumni association and the school is extremely important,” he said, adding that the funds raised through these activities have been channelled towards the schools’ development, maintenance and other educational needs.
他说，晚宴的目的不仅是将往届校友聚在一起叙旧，更重要的是动员校友的支持和捐助来帮助学校。
The purpose of the dinner, he said, was not merely to bring former students together for a reunion but, more importantly, to mobilise the support and contributions of the alumni to help the schools.
他说：“这一点尤为重要，因为这所中学仍然是一所半津贴政府学校，而小学则是一所全津贴政府学校。”
“This is particularly important because the secondary school remains a partially government-aided school, while the primary school is a fully government-aided school,” he said.
圣保罗校友会也强烈否认了关于学校学生领袖在9月5日的百年校庆晚宴上被安排接触或端送酒精饮料的指控。
OPA had also strongly denied claims that school prefects were made to handle or serve alcoholic drinks during its centenary reunion dinner on September 5.
该会会长陈史蒂文（Steven Chan）表示，学生领袖是在获得家长书面同意的情况下自愿参与的，他们的职责严格限于礼仪规范、签到、售卖纪念商品以及迎宾。陆兆福承认，在一家餐厅举行的晚宴期间，一些来宾曾被提供并饮用了酒精饮料。
Its president Steven Chan said the student prefects voluntarily took part with written parental consent and their duties were strictly limited to ceremonial protocol, registration, selling commemorative merchandise and welcoming guests Loke admitted that alcoholic beverages were served and consumed by some guests during the dinner held at a restaurant. “During the dinner, there was a ceremonial toast on stage. However, the organisers used tea instead of alcohol for the toast.
“晚宴期间，台上举行了仪式性的敬酒。然而，主办方在敬酒时用茶代替了酒。他说：“这是一种被称为‘以茶代酒’的传统华人习俗。”
“This is a traditional Chinese practice known as , which means substituting tea for wine,” he said.
他说，这些假新闻已经造成了相当大的负面影响，并波及了校长、老师、学生和家长。他说，警员也曾到学校盘问了31名学生。他说：“这无疑对学生造成了影响。
The fake news, he said, has caused considerable repercussions and affected the school principal, teachers, students and parents. Police officers, he said, had also visited the school to question 31 students. “This has undoubtedly affected the students.
他说，试想作为一名中学生却被要求接受警方盘问，并补充说，对任何青少年来说，接受警方盘问都可能是可怕且带来心理困扰的。陆兆福表示，校长还必须撰写报告并向教育部作出解释。陆兆福表示，他为学校群体不得不经历这一切感到遗憾。文：《星报》
“Imagine being a secondary school student who is required to undergo police questioning,” he said, adding that being questioned by the police can be frightening and psychologically distressing for any teenager. Loke said the school principal also had to prepare reports and provide explanations to the education ministry. Loke said he felt sorry that the school community has had to go through all this. By The Star