BATU PAHAT, Oct 4 — Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek has ordered a comprehensive review of all aspects of school management and security following the murder of a female student at a school in Yong Peng here yesterday.
She said follow-up action was being taken after she was briefed today by the police, Johor Education Department, Batu Pahat District Education Office and the school on the chronology of the incident.
Fadhlina said the Education Ministry (MOE) would not conceal any facts and wanted a thorough review of the student attendance records during additional classes, security controls and patrols around the school.
“I want everything under the MOE’s responsibility to be thoroughly examined. Do not hide anything,” she said in a Facebook post.
Press reports identified the victim as Form Four student Irene Sofiya Mohd Khairoul Faisal, 16.
Fadhlina said the security company appointed by the school had also been asked to give full cooperation to the review, and stern action would be taken if any negligence or failure by those responsible to carry out their duties as stipulated was found.
The MOE would also cooperate fully with PDRM and would not pre-empt the police investigation.
She said counselling support was also being provided to students and school staff affected by the incident, while urging the public to respect the investigation process and give the victim’s family space.
Earlier, Fadhlina attended a briefing at the school before visiting the victim’s family at Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital here this morning.
A 16-year-old boy has been remanded for six days to assist investigations into the murder of the student, who was found unconscious and covered in blood at the school.
Johor Police Chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the suspect was arrested at about 7 pm yesterday in the Yong Peng area, about an hour after police received information about the incident.
