ST John’s Institution, the alma mater of many a distinguished Malaysian personality, is racing against time to raise RM50,000 to pay its electricity bill – or its power supply will be cut, again.

Its power supply was cut yesterday but restored the same day after the school agreed to make a minimum payment of RM50,000 by the end of the week. Failure to do so will mean a blackout when school reopens on Monday.

The old boys are seeking donations to help pay the bill, which totals RM245,348. Following appeals, Tenaga Nasional has agreed to waive the interest fees of RM55,000.

St John’s Alumni Association president Isham Ishak said the #SAVESJI fund has collected RM30,000 so far.

“The old boys are confident of raising enough to offset the outstanding charges,” he said at the school today.

Power supply to the 114 year-old-school was cut at 11.50am and restored at 1.30pm. 

The school’s electricity bill comes up to about RM13,000 a month, more than double the allocation the government gives to mission schools.

“St John’s is (registered) under the Education Ministry as a mission school and therefore, it only receives a monthly allocation of RM5,000 to cover its utility and operational expenses.

“The school’s monthly operational expenses tops RM20,000 a month with our average TNB consumption hovering around RM13,000 a month.”

The school’s power supply problems began 10 years ago, Isham said. 

“In 2008 the TNB distribution meter blew and it took them 15 months to fix it. During the period, TNB asked the school to pay RM5,000 a month (for consumption).

“Upon reinstatement, TNB said we had been underpaying.”

He said TNB gave the school a bill for RM128,749 in 2009, but gave a RM50,000 discount after an appeal.

“We still can’t solve the matter which has been prolonged over the years. TNB keeps sending letters of demand while the school keeps asking for extensions. We don’t have the financial capacity to pay the full sum in one go,” said Isham.

He said the school had informed Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik of its concerns regarding the status of mission schools.

Contributions to help pay the school’s electricity bill can be made to Maybank account 514057184577 (Persatuan Alumni Sekolah St. John KL (1988)) – August 21, 2018.