By DayakDaily Team
BATU PAHAT, Oct 4: The Ministry of Education (MoE) has ordered a comprehensive review of school management and security following the death of a Form Four student at a secondary school in Yong Peng here yesterday (Oct 3).
According to Bernama, its minister, Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek said the review would cover student attendance during additional classes, security controls and patrols around the school.
She said the ministry would not conceal any facts and that all matters under its responsibility must be thoroughly examined.
“I want everything under the MoE’s responsibility to be thoroughly examined. Do not hide anything,” she said in a Facebook post.
She said the security company appointed by the school had also been instructed to give full cooperation, with stern action to be taken if any negligence or failure to fulfil its duties was established.
The ministry would also cooperate fully with police and would not pre-empt the ongoing investigation, while counselling support was being provided to students and school staff affected by the incident.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed condolences to the family of the victim, identified as 16-year-old Irene Sofiya Mohd Khairoul Faisal, and called for an immediate, thorough and transparent investigation.
“If there are elements of a crime, firm action must be taken in accordance with the law,” he said.
Anwar also stressed that the safety of children was a shared responsibility and that the Government would not compromise on their safety and wellbeing.
Separately, Johor Education and Information Committee chairman Dr Muhammad Naqib Md Ghazali urged the Johor Education Department (JPNJ) to provide full cooperation in the investigation into the student’s death.
He also called on JPNJ and the Batu Pahat District Education Office to provide necessary support to the victim’s family and the affected school community.
The chairman stressed that there would be no compromise on bullying, violence or criminal acts that threaten the safety of the school community.
“However, whether this incident involves such elements must be determined based on the outcome of official investigations rather than speculation,” he said.
Earlier, the 16-year-old student was found dead with injuries at the school at about 5.30pm yesterday.
Police have since remanded a 16-year-old boy for six days to assist investigations into the case.
Fadhlina had earlier attended a briefing at the school before visiting the victim’s family at Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital.
It was reported that the victim was found by her grandmother and a friend after she failed to return home despite her additional classes having ended. — DayakDaily
