KUALA LUMPUR: Police are investigating whether bullying may have contributed to the recent death of a 14-year-old female student in Setapak.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Comm Datuk Fadil Marsus said police had confirmed that two police reports were lodged following the girl’s death, including one by her mother a day after the incident.
“A sudden death report was lodged by the Setapak police station chief on Aug 18.
“The deceased was a 14-year-old female student at a secondary school in the Setapak area of Kuala Lumpur.
“On Aug 19 at about 7.49pm, police received another report from the deceased’s mother,” he said, adding that investigations were under Section 507B of the Penal Code.
Following investigations, Comm Fadil said a total of 92 witness statements had been recorded.
On Thursday (Aug 19), Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek directed the school inspectorate, district education office and Kuala Lumpur Education Department to complete an internal investigation into allegations of bullying and discrimination at a school here recently.
She said matters of public concern, including those involving bullying and racial elements, must be taken seriously and addressed promptly based on facts and due process.
On Aug 21, MCA Youth deputy chairman Mike Chong Yew Chuan called for a thorough, transparent, fair and impartial probe into the incident.
Chong said that if bullying, racial discrimination or institutional negligence was established, those responsible must be held fully accountable.
“Should the investigation find otherwise, the facts must likewise be laid bare so that the family and the rakyat can fully comprehend what actually transpired,” he said in a statement.
