IPOH, January 17 — Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the standard operating procedures (SOP) to withdraw school financial aid was breached by the headmaster who claimed that RM109,000 fund was stolen from him in Semenyih.

She said that the SOP requires any withdrawal amounting to more than RM10,000 for school financial aid be done with escorts.

"We view this issue seriously as the amount involved is huge. Also the SOP was breached. We have a strict SOP where fund amounting to more than RM10,000 needs to be done with either police escorts or additional teachers.

"There is already an investigation underway and we will leave the matter to the Selangor Education Department to reveal the outcome based on the police investigation,” she told a press conference after visiting Sekolah Kebangsaan Chepor here.

Fadhlina said the Ministry will not compromise on this issue and assured the public that action will be taken after the police and Selangor Education Department complete their investigations.

"For the school students, we will find ways to recompense them. It’s their right to receive the aid,” she said.

She also said the distribution of initial school aid in other schools has been going on smoothly and is expected to be delivered to all students by end of February.

Yesterday, it was reported that a thief broke into a headmaster’s car and escaped with RM109,000 which was kept on the front passenger seat of his car, while he had gone to get himself a drink from a nearby restaurant.

It was reported that the headmaster withdrew the money from a bank in Kampung Baru Semenyih.

According to Kajang police chief Zaid Hassan, police received a report about the incident at 12.17pm from the 50-year-old headmaster from a primary school in Semenyih.

Zaid said police are trying to track down the suspect and the case was being investigated under Section 379 of the Penal Code.