Former VI student blasts Fadhlina's RM200,000 windfall for 'rich school'

Fadhlina Sidek has come under fire from a former student of Kuala Lumpur's oldest secondary school, Victoria Institution, after the embattled education minister announced an impromptu RM200,000 government allocation for his alma mater, in what is likely to fuel calls for her resignation amid growing anger over misplaced priorities and the tragic death of a student in Sabah last month.

In a recent podcast, popular current affairs commentator Zam Yahaya referred to a social media post by Fadhlina about her meeting with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who was also a student of the 132-year-old school during his family's self-exile in the 1960s.

Fadhlina wrote that she was touched by Prabowo's concern for the school.

She then said she had instructed the SIP+ and SISC+ teams - special school improvement officers tasked by the education ministry - to assist VI, before announcing a series of allocations.

"I hereby announce an allocation of RM200,000 for the improvement and maintenance of school infrastructure and facilities for the benefit of students and teachers. I am also contributing smartboards for teaching and learning purposes," said Fadhlina.

Speaking on political podcast YB Viral, Zam questioned the allocation, saying VI was already among the best equipped schools.

"So you have contributed RM200,000 that could have gone to 10 or 20 much poorer schools. Never mind the rural areas, there are many more needy schools in Kuala Lumpur itself. When you donate to VI, what are you trying to achieve?" asked Zam, who was a student at VI for six years.

Zam said VI not only has an old boys association, but is also financially well-positioned to help students, including giving scholarships.

He said VI is a rich school, adding that the Sultan of Brunei is among the school's alumni and benefactors.

Zam said the school had been able to raise enough funds through its annual dinner.

"Former VI students are wealthy and prominent personalities. Billionaires," he added.

As such, the school could easily raise money, he said.

"You just have to call three or four former students and you have it. And every year there's a fundraiser."

Fadhlina's allocation for VI came on the heels of public anger over her decision to spend RM8.4 million on the purchase of Jalur Gemilang pins for 5.14 million students nationwide.

Critics labelled the badge purchase as wasteful, and many pointed out that it would be much cheaper to purchase the pins from suppliers and sellers on online platforms such as Shopee.

Many parents felt Fadhlina had her priorities mixed up, adding that the money could have been used to improve the supllementary food programme for students from low-income families as well as to upgrade school facilities.

"They should provide more nutritious food, and more options instead of prioritising badges," e-hailing driver Yusoff Suffian told MalaysiaNow recently.

Fadhlina has also been the target of protests in solidarity with the family of Zara Qairina Mahathir, a 13-year-old student whose death from an apparent fall in her dormitory sparked widespread speculation of a cover-up by authorities.

The protests are taking place against a backdrop of social media platforms flooded with memes and posts mocking Fadhlina, with many pointing out that she was appointed by Anwar Ibrahim because of the prime minister's close friendship with her late father Siddiq Fadzil, who was also his mentor who stood by him during his imprisonment on sodomy and power abuse convictions.

Swimming pool

Meanwhile, listing VI's facilities, Zam said the school boasts of comprehensive sports amenities, including dedicated fields and pitches for football, cricket, hockey and rugby.

"There is also a basketball court, two volleyball courts, tennis courts, a sepak takraw court and a huge badminton hall."

He said that during his time, the school had six laboratories for physics, biology and chemistry.

"That was in my time. And when I was there recently, it was pretty complete," he said, adding that the school also has a large mosque, a skating rink and a swimming pool.

"The only school with a swimming pool! This school is rich. Not only the parents are rich, but also the former students are rich and the alumni association is very strong.

Zam pointed out that far too many schools deserved the RM200,000 allocation, including those in Sabah and Sarawak.

"If you want to allocate RM200,000, give it to rural schools."