Old Paulians' Association denies prefects served alcohol at centenary dinner

The Old Paulians Association (OPA) has vehemently denied accusations that student prefects at St Paul's Institution (SPI) served alcohol during the centenary reunion dinner held in Seremban on September 5. In a recent statement, OPA President Steven Chan dismissed the allegations as baseless and malicious, accusing the spreaders of misinformation of attempting to tarnish the reputations of both the association and the school.

Chan clarified that the dinner, attended by approximately 1,600 alumni and distinguished guests, was a private event held at Regent Hall, Seremban, outside of school hours and did not take place on SPI premises. The OPA president confirmed that the prefects took part voluntarily, with written parental consent, and their roles were confined to ceremonial protocols, registration, promoting commemorative merchandise, and welcoming guests.

It was made clear through written briefings and verbal instructions that students were prohibited from handling, pouring, dispensing, or serving any alcoholic beverages, and any such claims were dismissed as fabrications.

Chan also denied that any objections raised during the preparatory sessions were disregarded, emphasizing that neither teachers nor prefects had participated in rehearsal sessions before the event. He assured that the serving of ordinary Chinese tea during toasts to local dignitaries and the school's leaders was merely natural aeration from the tea, which quickly dissipated and could not be mistaken for alcoholic beverages.

In response to the allegations, the OPA criticized the dissemination of photographs and selected video footage without proper context, arguing that such actions could mislead the public.