THE Johor Consumer Claims Tribunal has ordered a childcare centre in Pasir Gudang to refund RM1,400 to a human resources officer who claimed they accepted registrations despite having ceased operations.
Nor Hafizal@Nor Zaliza Abdul Wahab said she made an online bank transfer of RM1,400 to the centre on Aug 30, 2024.
Prior to that, she had checked the Johor Welfare Department portal which showed that the centre was still operational.
“I chose this childcare centre for my four-year-old son with special needs,” the claimant said when met outside the Johor Consumer Claims Tribunal in Menara Ansar, Johor Baru.
She revealed that the centre charged a RM550 monthly fee for her son to be there from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday except on public holidays.
“The fee is higher for my son compared to other children, but the centre was the only one that was willing to take him in,” said the claimant.
Nor Hafizal was supposed to send her son to the centre on Friday, Aug 30.
However, the owner sent a message telling her the centre was closed on that day as there had been a death in the family.
Nor Hafizal said she had no other option than to send her son to her mother’s house in Pasir Gudang.
She said the owner of the childcare centre sent her another message on Sunday (Sept 1) to say the facility was ordered to close for a week from Monday (Sept 2) as the hand, foot and mouth disease (HMFD) had been detected on the premises.
“I asked them to send me the directive from Johor Health Department via WhatsApp but they only gave me the internal memo of the closure.”
The claimant said she took emergency leave from work to take care of her son.
“I went to the centre and people in the area told me it was no longer operational, and many others had also become victims,” Nor Hafizal said.
The claimant said she was fortunate as another childcare centre later agreed to accept her son.
“I hope the Johor Welfare Department will update its portal to prevent more people from getting cheated by such childcare centre operators,” she said.
Tribunal president Lee Chee Thim ordered the respondent to refund RM1,400 to the claimant within two weeks.
Those needing assistance regarding Tribunal matters can call 07-227 1755 or 07-227 1766.
