IPOH, Malaysia: A secondary school in Tanjung Malim is charging students 10 sen if they want to use the toilet during "non-recess" periods.

Tanjung Malim PPP division Youth chief S. Steven, whose daughter is studying at SMK Methodist, said the toilets at the school were only "free of charge" during recess.

"It's ridiculous that students have to pay to use the toilet," he said, claiming that several parents had voiced their dissatisfaction to him over the matter.

Steven said he had gone to the school to meet its principal P. Yogarajan.

"I was told the toilet charges started about two years ago and money collected was to be used to rebuild the toilets," he said.

When contacted, Yogarajan confirmed the school had such a policy.

"The parent-teacher association discussed the idea and gave their consent," he said.

Yogarajan, who said the move was also a good way to deter students from skipping classes, however, declined to reveal how much the school had collected in toilet fees over the past two years.

This article was first published by The Star on Jan 7, 2008.