A group of parents with children in Chinese vernacular schools has lodged an anti-profiteering complaint against the schools with the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry.

"Schools should not be charging the goods and services tax (GST)," one of the parents, Edward Neoh, said outside the ministry’s branch office in Petaling Jaya today.

The schools of their children, Neoh ( photo ) said, have sent out letters and bills with increased prices after April this year, which is when the GST was implemented.

Two weeks ago, the parents went to the Customs and Excise Department to lodge a similar complaint.

The price hikes are on the school management fund, extracurricular activities and other organised school activities.

While the Customs Department was receptive to their complaints, Neoh said the parents were told that some of their complaints should be lodged with the Consumer Affairs Ministry instead.

Monthly activities fee up by 50 percent

The Price Control and Anti-profiteering Act 2011 falls under the jurisdiction of the Consumer Affairs Ministry.

Another parent, Chan Ooi Peng claimed her children's monthly fees for school activities have gone up by 50 percent since April, without any explanation given.

However, when she tried to ask the school's parent-teacher association about this increase, she was just told off.

"They told me that if I'm not satisfied with the increase, I can transfer my children to another school.

“We just want more cooperation and transparency from the school," a clearly annoyed Chan added.