SHAH ALAM, Oct 17 —The state government has moved to strengthen safety measures at SMK Bandar Utama Damansara (4) following the recent fatal stabbing of a student there.
Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said the State Executive Council, which met this morning, has agreed to implement immediate measures to restore confidence in school safety and support the mental well-being of affected students.
“The state government will meet with parents, teachers, and students to honour the memory of the victim and to discuss new safety measures, including student registration systems, the use of metal detectors, installation of CCTV, and smart notification systems linking parents and schools,” he said in a statement today.
The initiative will involve the Education Ministry, the Selangor Education Department, the District Education Office, the police, and the school’s Parent-Teacher Association.
“Incidents like this must never be allowed to happen again. Schools must once again become the safest place for our children,” Amirudin said.
“Incidents like this must never be allowed to happen again. Schools must once again become the safest place for our children,” Amirudin said.
Later in an update, the Menteri Besar’s office said the implementation of the safety measures may be expanded to other schools in Selangor if they prove to be successful.
“The state's immediate focus is on SMK Bandar Utama Damansara (4), due to the direct requests we have received from parents. That is the urgency.
“We also stand guided that public schools are under the purview of the Education Ministry, and they may have plans to mitigate these issues at the national level.”
The past several days have seen a sharp drop in attendance at the school as students and teachers cope with the psychological impact of the tragedy that saw a 14-year-old student stab a Form Four girl to death on Tuesday (October 14).
During a press conference on Wednesday (October 15), Selangor police chief Datuk Shazeli Kahar said initial investigations revealed the male suspect and the victim had no prior relationship or interaction before the attack.
The police believed the stabbing was not premeditated and likely driven by emotional impulses and social media influence.
“Initial findings also indicate the suspect and victim did not know each other before the incident.
Free vaccines for 12,500 students
On a separate matter, the Menteri Besar said the state will allocate RM1 million to provide free influenza vaccinations to 12,500 students across Hulu Langat, Gombak, Klang, and Petaling, starting next week.
The public health response measure comes amid the rise in Influenza A infections, particularly among school students.
He said the initiative will be led by state executive councillor for public health and the environment Jamaliah Jamaluddin.
Earlier this month, she said that 64.7 per cent of influenza cases in Selangor involve educational institutions from preschool to university.
On October 13, Education Director-General Mohd Azam Ahmad said about 6,000 school students nationwide have been infected with influenza so far, prompting several schools to close on the advice of their respective District Health Offices.
Last Thursday (October 9), the Health Ministry said that there were 97 clusters of influenza A and B infections during Epidemiological Week 40/2025, up from 14 the previous week, with most cases detected in educational institutions.
All states recorded an increase in cases, with the highest numbers in Selangor (43 clusters), Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (15), Penang (10), Johor (nine), and Kedah (five), with most patients exhibiting mild symptoms.
