Dad: I know Vasantha best, not Kamalanathan

NIBONG TEBAL: The father of M. Vasantha Piriya, the schoolgirl who died after being accused of stealing her teacher’s mobile phone, wants people to stop speculating about his daughter’s mental health and spreading inaccurate stories.

Met at the family home in Taman Tonghai here yesterday, R. Munian­dy, 54, said he was disappointed that Deputy Education Minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan reportedly said that Vasantha cut her wrist in 2016 and that the family did not proceed with the counsellor’s suggestion to get her further medical help.

“I wish to know where he got his information as my daughter never attempted suicide in the past.

“He (Kamalanathan) is not in a position to discuss my child’s mental health. She is my daughter and I know her better than anyone else. I raised her myself, so don’t break our hearts,” he said.

Muniandy added that Vasantha, 14, wanted to become a doctor because she wanted to save lives and make the world a better place.

He said he never expected her dream to come to an abrupt end when she attempted suicide last month, and died a week later.

The Form Two SMK Methodist student passed away on Feb 1 after being in a coma for seven days at the Seberang Jaya Hospital.

Muniandy said he yearned for the warm rice that she would serve him at dinner time when she came home from school.

“Her hobbies were drawing and singing but her ambition was to be a doctor,” he said, adding he denied ever telling anyone that Vasantha had tried to commit suicide in the past.

“I regret there is a report that claimed CCTV footage from the school showed Vasantha taking the teacher’s iPhone. This has tarnished the reputation of my daughter.

“If there is such a video, the police should show it to us,” he added.

Penang police chief Comm Datuk A. Thaiveegan denied that investigations established it was Vasantha who took the teacher’s phone.