lots of misconceptions and misinformation in this thread.

i. schools will usually keep ur SPM certificate until:
- u or somebody from ur family take it from them;
- u requested it by mail or delivery;
- the school updates their records and send back unfinished business back to the pejabat pendidikan daerah (PPD) and eventually jabatan pendidikan negeri.

ii. schools does not send certificates to u unless requested or instructed. remember that schools will only have ur last address and phone number. so they will not just happily send out ur certificates to an unconfirmed address.

iii. if the certificate is missing, u can inquire at the state education deparment or PPD. they can file a request for a new certificate for u from lembaga peperiksaan.

iv. lembaga peperiksaan usually issues original certificate to schools as soon as correction period ended. i believe correction period is about a month after SPM results are officially released.