A group of SJK(C) parents complained that some schools are collecting Goods and Services Tax (GST) on behalf of private companies.

They claimed to have received about two hundred complaints on this matter from a Facebook group they have set up.

Today, the group lodged a report at the Customs Department office in Kelana Jaya.

"Neither schools nor the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) are GST-registered.

"Rightfully, they can't collect GST," Edward Neoh Chuan Tat ( photo ), one of the parents, told reporters after lodging the report.

The schools did not issue any GST invoice to the parents as they are supposed to do under the law, he said.

"When we go to mamak stalls, if it is unregistered, we can report them. Same thing here," Neoh added.

The vendors from outside are making use of schools to collect GST, he claimed.

Only registered vendors can collect

"The vendors can collect if they are registered, but the schools are not allowed. (Vendors) asking schools to collect GST is wrong," Neoh said.

However, he is unsure of the number of schools involved so far.

The customs officer has promised to look into the matter and take the necessary action, Neoh added.

Based on the documents he showed to the press, robotics, mental arithmetics and computer are among the extra-curricular programmes where GST has been charged by the schools.

He also complained that some of these schools are asking the parents to pay its electricity and water bills.

Government schools are not supposed to collect such fees from the parents, he pointed out.

However, Neoh added, the parents have not been able to verify this matter as their attempts to seek answers from the schools has been ignored.

"SJK(C) has become gold mines for vendors. Vendors are using the name of PTA to collect money, opening classes which are not in the syllabus, but endorsed by the PTA.

"This is how we become ATM for certain vendors," said Lim Jenn Shiah, a parent.

The government implemented the GST effective from April 1.