SHAH ALAM: Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek visited a secondary school in Banting, Kuala Langat, on Monday (July 6) following an incident in which a Form Three schoolgirl is believed to have been stabbed earlier this morning.
She arrived at the school at 1.20pm and met with the management team to obtain more information regarding the matter.
Fadhlina said the Royal Malaysia Police have secured the situation and taken a suspect into custody to help with inquiries, stressing that the immediate priority now is to ensure the victim gets proper medical attention and that psychological support is made available to students and staff.
"May the principal, our dear teachers, and the students be given the strength and fortitude to face this ordeal. I appeal to the public to refrain from spreading false information or manufacturing rumours while the police investigation is underway,” she said in a social media post today.
Expressing gratitude to the various agencies handling the situation, she assured that further updates would be communicated in due course once cleared by the authorities.
Meanwhile, Selangor Human Resources and Poverty Eradication Committee chairman, V. Paparaidu, who is also the Banting assemblyman, expressed his gratitude to the state Education Department for providing immediate psychosocial support and counseling to the victim, her family, and the affected students.
"Meanwhile, I must reiterate that the security of our children in schools cannot be compromised. Guards need to remain constantly alert, monitoring everyone who comes and goes, especially when students arrive or leave for the day.
"Security at entry gates needs to be stepped up to ensure unauthorised people cannot enter the school grounds. Our children's safety and well-being must always come first,” he said in a Facebook post, adding that schools should be a safe space where students can get an education without fear or intimidation.
Kuala Langat district police chief Supt Mohd Akmalrizal Radzi earlier stated that the police were alerted to the incident at 9.50am.
According to police findings, the schoolgirl was stabbed with a knife by another female student. While the victim remains in a stable condition under medical care at Banting Hospital, the suspect has been apprehended for further investigation. - Bernama
