By DayakDaily Team
SIBU, April 8: Students have the right to refuse participation in any activity they consider unsafe or high-risk, emphasised Deputy Minister for Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapa’ee.
His remarks follow a recent tragedy that claimed the lives of two Sarawakian trainee teachers from the Institute of Teacher Education (IPG) Perlis Campus, prompting wider concern over safety standards in high-risk and outdoor activities.
In a TVS news, Dr Annuar noted that while guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are already in place, the core issue lies in the level of compliance and the attitudes towards enforcing them.
“Students have every right to say no if they feel something is unsafe. We should not follow instructions blindly simply because they come from those in authority.
“When it comes to safety, everyone has the right to refuse if they are exposed to risk,” he told reporters after visiting the victim’s family and paying his last respects to the late Joey Ling Lin Siang at the Chiang Chuan Funeral Parlour here today.
He stressed that cultivating the courage to reject unsafe situations is crucial, as safety should not rest solely on directives from superiors, but must be embraced as a shared responsibility, including by students themselves.
The incident, he added, underscores the need to reassess the conduct of training programmes and outdoor activities, with greater emphasis on risk awareness and the confidence to make sound decisions for personal safety.
Dr Annuar also highlighted the emotional toll on the victim’s family, noting that the loss is especially devastating given the victim’s young age and academic excellence.
“This is a deeply painful loss for the family. The victim was young and an outstanding student. It is undoubtedly difficult for them to come to terms with what has happened,” he said.
He added that the family hopes the Ministry of Education will ensure a thorough and transparent investigation, with findings fully disclosed to them.
“I will raise the family’s concerns with the Minister of Education. Investigations are ongoing, and they deserve to be informed of the outcome,” he said.
Meanwhile, Joey’s funeral will take place tomorrow at the cemetery in Batu 10, Sibu.
The Sarawak government is also expected to extend assistance to the bereaved family to help them through this challenging period. — DayakDaily
