Negeri Sembilan Education Department (JPNS) has taken a serious view over viral allegations on TikTok claiming that a SPM certificate belonging to a student in a Senawang school was withheld due to unpaid Parents-Teachers Association (PIBG) fees.
Its director, Khalidah Omar, said immediate action has been taken to conduct a thorough investigation to verify the matter.
“JPNS is aware of the viral content on TikTok regarding the alleged withholding of a student’s SPM certificate.
“We take this matter seriously and have initiated an investigation to obtain accurate and comprehensive information,” she said in a statement on Wednesday.
She stressed that schools are not allowed to withhold certificates or official student documents on the grounds of unpaid PIBG contributions, as such payments are voluntary and cannot be made a condition for school-related matters.
The department also advised the public not to speculate while investigations are ongoing, adding that it will continue to strengthen monitoring and remind school administrators to comply with guidelines to ensure student welfare remains a top priority.
The issue went viral after a TikTok user alleged that a relative who scored 9A in SPM was given an empty envelope instead of a certificate during an award ceremony due to outstanding PIBG fees. The post also claimed that a RM250 cash reward was temporarily withheld.
MARA chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki also expressed disappointment over the incident, saying it was inappropriate to withhold student awards and certificates over unpaid fees, and urged school authorities to exercise compassion and common sense in such matters.
