Ministry reports graft claim

FB post alleges corruption involved in transfer of teacher

PUTRAJAYA: The Education Ministry has lodged a police report following viral messages on social media about a teacher who was unhappy over the transfer process, alluding to abuse of power.

The ministry said it viewed seriously the allegations as it involved the integrity of its officers.

It hoped that the police would conduct a thorough investigation on the person who made the accusation on social media.

“At the same time, the ministry will conduct an internal investigation,” it said in a statement yesterday.

It also advised teachers who want to apply for transfers to deal with the ministry and not with outside parties.

Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik said stern action would be taken against any officer found to have abused his power in processing transfer applications.

Speaking to reporters after launching the Karangkraf Carnival in Shah Alam yesterday, he said the ministry lodged the report so that police can investigate the owner of the Facebook account under the name of “Nur Amirah” who alleged abuse involving payments to process the applications.

The approval for a transfer is based on the need for the service, availability of vacancy and the options in the requested schools.

“Among the reasons which would qualify a person’s request for transfer are chronic illnesses, threats to safety, accompanying a spouse, the length of service in a school and other reasonable factors,” it said.

Teachers are allowed to apply for transfers through the e-GTukar line each year.

This year, applications were opened from Feb 18 to March 25.

A total of 25,332 teachers had sought transfers. Of the total, 2,133 applications had been approved for the June session.

The highest number of approvals were given to those who had to follow their spouses (951 teachers), the duration of their service (387), miscellaneous reasons (368), chronic diseases (219), mutual applications (168), and security threats (40).

Decisions are made by a Teacher Transfer Committee at the ministry. — Bernama

At the same time, the ministry will also conduct an internal investigation. Education Ministry statement