The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) today expressed support for a proposal to delay the payment of school fees for children of flood victims until the middle or end of the year to help lighten their immediate financial burden.

NUTP secretary-general Lok Yim Pheng said NUTP supported the proposal by a NGO for the fees payment to be postponed.

"We (NUTP) agree with the proposal as it will ease the burden of students and parents who cannot afford to pay school fees after being hit by the recent massive floods. I am also asking parent-teacher associations (PIBG) to put off the PIBG fee for flood victims for the time being.

"There are various fees, including PIBG fees, which could range between RM100 and RM200 for each student depending on the school and PIBG," she told Bernama when contacted.

She also called on NGOs and private companies to come forward and assist students affected by the disaster involving more than 200,000 victims in several states, especially in the east coast of the peninsula.

Several portals had reported that Angkatan Pembela Rakyat (Angkara) coordinator Mohd Shukri Mohd Ramli proposed that the Education Ministry put off the school fees payment for parents and students who could not afford to make the payment now.

The move was aimed at easing the financial burden shouldered by flood victims as a large portion of their monthly income would be used to rebuild their lives after the floods destroyed their homes and belongings.

Meanwhile, Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (PAGE) president Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim also supported the proposal and said flood victims should be given a temporary reprieve for them to sort out their priorities now.

"The proposal is good as it was a major disaster this time. I am asking the government to postpone the payment of school fees only for schools and areas which were affected by floods.

The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) also agreed with the proposal to ease the financial pressure faced by civil servants.

Its president, Datuk Azih Muda, also called on the government to contribute school supplies such as uniform, bags, shoes and stationery for flood victims.

"Apart from that, I also hope the government would expedite payment of bonus to civil servants, before Jan 10 to help lighten their burden. The government should understand the predicament of the people.

"There are state governments which have already paid bonus to their employees and we hope the federal government would do the same," he told Bernama.