PETALING JAYA: The students suspected of gang rape in Melaka should not be allowed to sit for their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations until police investigations conclude, says Pahang MCA Youth chief Wong Siew Mun.
She said allowing the suspects to proceed with their examinations as scheduled undermines justice and fails the victim.
ALSO READ: Four allowed to sit for SPM
"The right to education can never be greater than the principles of justice and moral responsibility.
"The victim is also a student. She deserves access to education, and more importantly, safety and dignity within that space," she said in a statement on Monday (Oct 13).
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek had said earlier that the suspects would be allowed to take the examinations, as their right to education would be upheld in line with the ministry’s principle of "education for all".
On Monday, Education director-general Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad said the four students had been expelled and would sit for the SPM at a different location.
He noted that even if the suspects are in a detention centre when the exams begin on Nov 3, there are procedures in the Examination Board’s SPM management handbook.
ALSO READ: Expelled students in rape probe to sit SPM at separate centre, says Education DG
Wong said psychological and legal assistance must be given to the victim.
She also called for a national task force on sexual violence in schools to be set up to review the Education Ministry’s safety protocols.
She said Fadhlina's remarks blur the line between right and wrong, weakening confidence in the education system while exposing structural failures in addressing sexual violence in schools.
"The right to education does not exempt one from the consequences of their actions.
"The minister must retract her irresponsible statement and issue a public apology to the victim and her family.
ALSO READ: Being underage does not exempt rape suspects from the law, says Azalina
"Concrete steps must be taken to restore confidence in the integrity of Malaysia’s education system," she said.
Wong said the ministry's insistence on a "neutral" approach protects the accused instead of upholding moral responsibility.
"By hiding behind the excuse of ‘balancing all sides’, the ministry sends a dangerous message: even if you commit a grave act of violence, as long as you haven’t been convicted, life goes on as normal," she said.
It was reported on Saturday (Oct 11) that a Form Three student at a school in Melaka suffered trauma and refused to return to school after she was allegedly raped by two senior students.
The act was also allegedly recorded on a mobile phone and witnessed by two other students during the incident, which occurred in a classroom at about 2.50pm on Oct 2.
All the suspects have since been remanded to assist police investigations.
