Anna showing two police reports that her son had lodged.
KOTA KINABALU: A single mother is questioning the security of a college here after her son has lost his laptop twice, believed to have been stolen while boarding at the hostel.
The son, who started his diploma at the college early this year, not only lost one but two laptops in less than two months while staying at the college’s hostel.
Anna Vivienne, 52, said the first incident happened on March 7 when her 19-year-old son lost his Dell laptop computer and other valuable items, including cash that were kept in a locker inside his room.
“Among the valuables stolen were his wallet containing his MyKad, two ATM cards and RM70 cash,” she said when met yesterday.
According to Anna, when the first incident happened, the college principal had told her that it was her son’s negligence and carelessness that caused him to lose his laptop.
“At that time, I have already doubt about the safety of the college and the hostel and told my son to lodge a police report.
“However, today (yesterday) I received a short message service (SMS) from my son that his new laptop that I bought for him two weeks ago has been stolen,” she said.
Anna said after receiving the SMS, she immediately went to the hostel to meet her son and asked for clarification from the college.
According to Anna, the alleged incident believed to have happened during the night and her son only realised when he woke up around 7.30am.
She then went to meet the college management and the college principal once again gave a similar reason and acted like nothing had happened.
“The principal said that this is an isolated incident and hope that I will not lodge a police report as they will carry out their own investigation.
“I was also told by some residents that the main door is hardly locked during the night which makes it easy for anyone to walk in or out freely,” she said, adding that there were about 30 students staying in one block.
“I also found out that most of the lockers in some rooms were not locked as students were never given any keys to lock their valuables,” she said.
Another police report was lodged by her son at the Karamunsing police station at 9.30am yesterday.
Anna said there were several similar incidents where students had lost their belongings but no action had been taken by the college management.
She said the safety and security of the college is of paramount importance, especially to those who are boarding in the hostel.
“The principal did ask me why don’t I just bring back my son, if I am afraid that a similar incident would happen to him again, but how can I take him home if the college has emphasised that all first-year students must stay in the hostel until end of July.
“After going through this incident, I really wanted to transfer my son to another college but I cannot do so because he was given a study loan by the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) to complete his studies at this college,” she said.
Anna hoped the college would take such matter seriously for the safety of the students and their belongings.