JOHOR BARU: The Education Ministry has ordered a thorough review of all aspects surrounding the death of Irene Sofiya Mohd Khairool Faisal at a school in Yong Peng, including students’ attendance during extra classes, school security and patrols.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the review would also involve the security company to ensure that all responsibilities had been properly carried out.
“Firm action will be taken if there is any negligence or if any responsibility was not carried out as it should have been,” she said in a Facebook post after visiting Yong Peng on Sunday (Oct 4).
“I want everything under the responsibility of the Education Ministry to be thoroughly examined. Do not hide anything.”
Fadhlina said that according to information from police, the victim was found unconscious at the school before she was pronounced dead.
She said she had received briefings from the Royal Malaysia Police, Johor Education Department, Batu Pahat District Education Office and the school on the chronology of the incident and the actions being taken.
She also met the victim’s family at Sultanah Nora Ismail Hospital, where a post-mortem was scheduled to determine the cause of death.
“In a moment like this, no one feels this loss more deeply than the family. A child has gone. Her family deserves answers,” she said.
Fadhlina said a 16-year-old boy had been remanded for six days to assist in investigations.
“The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code. The motive and cause of the incident are still being investigated by police,” she said.
She said the ministry would not pre-empt the police investigation and would give its full cooperation.
Counselling support is also being provided to students and school staff affected by the incident.
Earlier reports said Irene was at the school for tuition classes on Oct 3 and was found by her grandmother after she failed to return home.
Her grandmother went to the school after one of Irene’s friends contacted her to ask whether she was at home.
Police received information at about 5.50pm that day that a teenage girl had been found unconscious and covered in blood inside a school hall.
She had suffered several injuries to her head and body.
