Civil defence officials to meet with pupils’ parents

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Civil Defence Force will meet the parents of the schoolgirls who were part of the training programme which saw snakes being tossed in a muddy pit with them, to explain the situation.

“We will meet them either today or tomorrow. We hope that they can accept our apologies and explanation on the incident,” said its deputy director-general of operations Datuk Selamat Dahlan at a press conference at the force’s headquarters here yesterday.

He added that its representatives, the Education Ministry and other relevant agencies had met the pupils and the teachers at the Kuala Kangsar primary school in Perak.

The trainers involved were suspended shortly after the incident came to light on Monday.

Selamat said the safety of the participants in the training was of utmost importance and he assured everyone that such an incident would not be repeated.

“We are currently reviewing the training module and will rectify any weaknesses,” he said.

Meanwhile, former chairman of the National Service Training Council, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, said the trainers’ actions were “shocking and outrageous”.

“No one as young as those children should be subjected to such extreme fear and distress,” he said in a statement yesterday.

He urged appropriate action against the trainers responsible.