KUCHING, Nov 23: Rt Revd Datuk Danald Jute has emphasised the importance of remaining vigilant, not becoming complacent, and taking the necessary precautions to improve school security despite the fact that the recent slew of bomb threats sent to schools throughout the State was a hoax.
Yesterday, Danald, the Bishop of Kuching and President of Anglican Mission Schools, issued a statement on his personal Facebook account addressed to the principals, headmasters/headmistresses, and Anglican Mission schools in Sarawak.
“The police have issued a statement saying that the bomb threat sent to a number of schools is but a hoax.
“Whilst we have a sense of relief by this assurance, let us not be complacent. We earnestly urge you to be extra vigilant and alert and to do the necessary to step up security in our schools.
“There is no need to panic, and please advise our students, teachers and parents not to be alarmed,” he wrote.
It was reported yesterday that the reported bomb threats at SMK Kuching High and an international school in the Kuching district were confirmed to be hoaxes, with no evidence of a bomb risk detected.
Kuching District Police Chief ACP Ahsmon Bajah confirmed that two police reports regarding the emailed bomb threats were lodged yesterday.
Students and staff at SMK Kuching High were immediately evacuated after the school received a bomb attack threat at 3pm yesterday with the road leading to the school cordoned off and a huge police presence on site to conduct a thorough security flushing.
Furthermore, several news outlets have reported that the Royal Malaysia Police has received a total of 37 reports regarding false bomb threats across the country.
Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain said they involved 28 international schools, seven private schools, and two public schools.
Razarudin said the police had received multiple reports of hoax bomb threats via email to private and public schools nationwide.
In the course of their investigations, he explained that the email address ‘Taktstorer’ which was used to send the threatening emails, means troublemaker/peace disruptor in German, and has never been used to send out any emails prior to this.
The original text in the bomb scare email was written in English and later translated to Bahasa Malaysia using a language translation app. — DayakDaily
