RM109k stolen from headmaster’s car: netizens question alleged flouting of SOPs

JOHOR BARU – Following reports that RM109,000 was stolen from a headmaster’s vehicle, netizens have expressed suspicions over the school official’s actions, which may have flouted the Education Ministry’s standard operating procedures (SOPs) on the handling of cash.

Earlier today, Bernama reported that the headmaster from Semenyih had withdrawn RM109,000 in financial aid for a school which was then placed in a bag on the front passenger seat of his vehicle.

The headmaster, who stopped at a restaurant for a drink, returned to the vehicle only to find the windscreen broken and the bag of cash stolen.

Following the report, netizens pointed to the Education Ministry’s guidelines in 2012 pertaining to financial aid for schools, particularly the procedure related to withdrawals of large sums of cash.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has addressed the matter, stressing that there was an apparent breach of SOP in the withdrawal of the money in the incident at Beranang, Selangor yesterday.

“We take this matter seriously because this loss involves a large amount and the financial SOP has been violated. We have a strict SOP that one must be accompanied when (withdrawing money) above RM10,000. This is a very large amount.

“We are waiting for the reports from police and the Selangor Education Department. Then we will announce the action that will be taken,” she told reporters after visiting SK Chepor in Perak today.

According to part 6 of the guidelines, withdrawals up to RM10,000 by a headmaster must be accompanied by at least two teachers.

For withdrawals of over RM10,000, headmasters are advised to take additional safety measures such as getting a police escort.

However, Kajang district police chief Mohd Zaid Hassan has since stated that the headmaster did not request for a police escort when withdrawing money from a bank there.

He said that based on a statement by the 50-year-old headmaster, it was normal for him to make such a transaction without a police escort, and that he has been doing this for ten years.

A netizen, @faisal_mn_, suggested that the incident could have been “pre-planned”, pointing out that a person who is transporting a large sum of cash should not make unplanned pit stops.

“You know you will be withdrawing 100k cash,” the user wrote. “You shouldn’t stop at any place, other than the school immediately after the withdrawal.

“Plus, 100k need at least 4 people in the car,” he said.

Another user on Twitter opined that the teacher could have been negligent and that the headmaster should also be investigated.

“Headmaster should be investigated for negligence and perhaps theft,” @boisonberry99 tweeted.

Meanwhile, @play3r_two questioned why SOPs required cash withdrawals for financial aid when depositing into recipients’ accounts would be a safer option for the school.

“Why must the cash be given through the school? Can’t they just bank it into the parents’ account?

“Schools are also wasting money by doing cash handout ceremonies,” @play3r_two tweeted.

Following the statement by Zaid, a police report from the headmaster over the incident was received at 12.17pm.

Currently, police are understood to be tracking down the thief while investigations are being conducted under Section 379 of the Penal Code. – The Vibes, January 17, 2023