{
  "id": 16273427,
  "title": "Old Paulians' Association denies prefects served alcohol at centenary dinner",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/old-paulians-association-denies-prefects-served-alcohol-at-centenary",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-24T03:47:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/regional/2026/10/1562443/old-paulians-association-denies-prefects-served-alcohol-centenary"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.\n\nChan 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.\n\nChan 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.\n\nIn 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.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: The Old Paulians' Association (OPA) has denied allegations that student prefects handled or served alcohol at its centenary reunion dinner in Seremban on Sept 5.",
  "key_points": [
    "Old Paulians Association denies alcohol served at centenary dinner.",
    "St Paul's Institution prefects served ceremonial roles only.",
    "Association criticizes misuse of photos and videos."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The association’s firm dismissal of these allegations highlights the growing tension between alumni organizers and public scrutiny regarding the conduct of student volunteers at high-profile private school events.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}