School funds embezzled, claims PTA

A RM100,000 allocation made in 2008 went unaccounted and the culprits have yet to answer to the authorities, say committee members.

PETALING JAYA: Several Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) committee members of the Assunta 1 Primary School have cried foul over an unaccounted RM100,000 in school funds.

PTA chairman C Mahavishnu, the school headmistress Noor Adza Ismail and teacher, Noor Lina Mohd Yusuf, were implicated in the matter.

The money was allocated to the school by the education ministry in 2008.

PTA deputy chairman, Noorulainah Jalaludheen, said Mahavishnu had told them that RM55,000 was used to upgrade electical wiring and the rest for plumbing works.

Noorulianah said no such wiring works were carried out although the fund was disbursed.

“We found this out when the fire department investigated an incident where a fire broke out in the school. We were told that no wiring work was done prior to the fire,” Noorulainah said.

She added that checks also revealed that no plumbing work was carried out.

“Out of the 15 toilets in the school, only three work. So where did the money go?” asked Noorulainah.
She also said that the new committee members who came in March this year also suspected something amiss when RM39,000 was used on the pretext of buying 20 computers.

“Assunta 1 and Assunta 2 primary schools share the same computer lab although both primary schools are managed separately.

“Mahavishnu told us last year that he would purchase 20 computers for about RM39,000. However, only five computers were purchased at the said price.

“When Assunta 2 PTA chairman, Muhammad Zarif Abdullah, enquired about it, Mahavishnu accused Zarif of misappropriating the fund instead,” claimed Noorulainah.

Infuriated, she said Zarif took the matter to the district education office and the Selangor Education Department. Both schools were ordered to hold joint-committee meeting.

“At the meeting, Mahavishnu only apologised to Zarif over his unwarranted accusation and gave an assurance that he will allow the committe to audit the accounts,” said Noorulainah.


Report lodged with MACC

Not satisfied, Assunta 1 committee members brought the matter to the attention of Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong in July, who instructed the inspectorate to probe the matter.

A report was also lodged with the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

“The MACC interrogated the trio two weeks ago and Mahavishnu misled the officers by providing them with the minutes of a 2009 meeting, instead of last year’s,” Noorulainah said.

Last month, the principal of Assunta 1, Noor Adza, and the teacher implicated in the matter, Noor Lina, received a transfer order from the district edcuation department.

Noorulianah said that Noor Adza is being sent to a prominent school in Kota Damansara with better perks.

“Noor Lina is still in Assunta although her transfer was effective Aug 16. She claimed that she has a letter from the Prime Minister’s Department freezing her transfer,” Noorulianah said.

She added that Mahavishnu has up till now not accounted for the missing funds and wants the ministry to intervene in the matter and take action against the trio.

“We also want to call for an EGM to remove Mahavishnu as PTA chairman. An independent audit team must be appointed to check the school accounts of the past five years,” she said.

Meanwhile, Mahavishnu dismissed all accusations that he had misappropriated the school funds, claiming that the MACC and the ministry had cleared him of any wrongdoing.

He pointed out that the RM100,000 allocation from the education ministry in 2008 was never managed by him.

“The government allocated the same amount to Assunta 2 as well. However, the funds were managed by the school’s board of directors. I had nothing to do with the funds,” he said.

Mahavishnu added that it was the board which decided to use the funds for repair works under the supervision of one of the board members known as Terence, an engineer.

On the computer purchases, Mahavishnu admitted that he purchased only five computers for about RM15,000 and not RM39,000 as alleged.

“We intended to buy 20 units but lacked funds. The computers were purchased based on a quotation given by a reputable vendor. I welcome anyone to investigate this,” said Mahavishnu.