KUALA LUMPUR: CCTV cameras at the Yong Peng school where Form Four student Irene Sofiya Mohd Khairool Faisal was killed did not cover the spot where the incident took place, says Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek.
"The school has CCTV, but it was not installed at the scene of the crime. So we are improving this and taking immediate action," the Education Minister told reporters at Parliament on Monday (Oct 5).
The 16-year-old was found with multiple injuries in the school hall after extra classes on Saturday (Oct 3).
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Fadhlina also said the security firm guarding the school could lose its contract if its patrol records showed it failed in its duties on the day.
She said the ministry was checking the company's patrol records and duty logs and any breach could lead to action ranging from a non-compliance notice and financial penalties up to termination.
"If anyone is paid to keep a school safe but fails to carry out the responsibilities set for them, the ministry will act," she said.
Fadhlina said the criminal investigation was a matter for the police, but the ministry would not wait on matters under its purview.
"If there are weaknesses, we will fix them. If there is non-compliance or negligence, we will take action," she added.
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Several students have been detained to assist investigations, and a 16-year-old boy has been remanded for six days.
Fadhlina rejected criticism that the ministry had done little after earlier cases. She said all 11 additional safety measures announced in October last year were being rolled out in stages.
A third phase of CCTV installation worth RM15mil will cover 1,000 schools next year.
The first two phases covered 533 boarding schools at a cost of RM8mil.
She admitted some CCTV units in schools were broken or poorly maintained, and asked schools with faulty cameras to inform the ministry.
"CCTV is not a complete solution to school safety," she said.
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On renewed calls to bring back caning, she said it had never been abolished.
Existing rules allow male students to be caned for certain offences. Only the head teacher or principal, or a teacher they expressly authorise, can do it, and never in anger or to the point of injury.
Fadhlina urged the public not to speculate about the case online, noting that those detained were minors.
"Do not try or punish them first through social media before the legal process is complete.
"We cannot return this child to her family. But we can make sure her death does not simply pass," she added.
