Former deputy education minister P Kamalanathan today responded to the issue of the "mysterious" RM39.7 million allocation for 13 Tamil schools, reportedly promised by the BN government without the approval of the cabinet.

In a statement, Kamalanathan said that the correct figure is RM36 million and the approval for the funding could have been overlooked by Pakatan Harapan when it took over the administration from BN.

Elaborating further, the MIC supreme council member said that the allocation had been a request from the Socio-Economic Development Unit for the Indian Community (Sedic) to former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak when he was still in power.

"After studying Sedic's request, on August 9, 2017, Datuk Seri Najib Razak wrote to former Treasury secretary-general, Tan Sri Irwan Serigar, for further action.

"Usually, when the prime minister consents to something in a matter like this, the responsibility to manifest the suggestion lies with the Prime Minister's Department, and the Finance Ministry, where it will be finalised with available funds.

"In this issue, the RM36 million was scheduled to be channelled to 22 Tamil schools after the 14th general election, with the hope that BN will retain the federal government.

"Maybe when the Harapan government took over after GE14, the Prime Minister's Department and the new Treasury secretary-general, must have overlooked the approval (for the funds)," wrote Kamalanathan.

According to him, Najib was the only prime minister who truly cared about the infrastructural development of Tamil schools.

"Under his administration, between 2009 and 2018, almost RM900 million was channelled to 524 Tamil schools."

Yesterday, Education Minister Maszlee Malik hit out at Najib, saying that the former premier must account for the allocation which was supposedly promised by the BN government, but never reached the schools.

Last Friday, Malaysiakini had reported an Education Ministry source claiming that the said funds were promised for Tamil schools and that BN held functions to present mock cheques to these schools, despite not receiving the cabinet's approval for the funding.