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 yesterday.
She is taking follow-up action after being briefed by the police, the Johor Education Department, the Batu Pahat District Education Office, and the school today on the incident's chronology.
The Education Ministry (MOE) will not conceal any facts and wants 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,” Fadhlina said in a Facebook post.
News reports identified the victim as Form Four student Irene Sofiya Mohd Khairoul Faisal, 16.
She added that the security company appointed by the school had also been asked to cooperate fully with the review, and that stern action would be taken if any negligence or failure by those responsible to carry out their duties as stipulated was found.
The MOE will also cooperate fully with the police and would not pre-empt their investigation.
Counselling support is also being provided to students and school staff affected by the incident, and Fadhilna urged the public to respect the investigation process and give the victim’s family space.
Earlier, she 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 police arrested the suspect at 7pm yesterday in the Yong Peng area, an hour after receiving information about the incident.
