Fadhlina rejects claims previous school cases were 'swept under the carpet'

KUALA LUMPUR: Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek has rejected claims that previous cases involving schools were "swept under the carpet", saying investigations and action continue even after public and media attention subsides.

Fadhlina said a case disappearing from news headlines or social media discussions did not mean investigations or action had stopped.

"I also want to address claims that there were previous cases which were said to have gone 'silent'.

"A case does not stop simply because it is no longer in the headlines or being discussed on social media," she told a press conference today.

She said investigations, disciplinary action, legal proceedings and other interventions continued according to the jurisdiction of the relevant authorities.

"We should not confuse a case no longer receiving public attention with a case being stopped or silenced," she said.

Fadhlina said the Education Ministry was prepared to review any case where it was alleged that appropriate action had not been taken.

"If there are cases where it is alleged that appropriate action was not taken, the Education Ministry is prepared to review them and provide clarification based on the records and the actual status of the action taken," she said.

Her remarks came amid renewed public scrutiny of safety and discipline in schools following the death of 16-year-old Irene Sofiya Mohd Khairool Faisal in Yong Peng.

Fadhlina said criminal investigations into school incidents were the responsibility of police, while the ministry was responsible for matters within its jurisdiction.

These included school safety, CCTV, security controls, compliance with standard operating procedures, discipline, psychosocial support and school management.

She said the ministry would not interfere with or pre-empt police investigations, but would not wait to address matters that fell directly under its responsibility.

"What is under our control, we will examine. If there are weaknesses, we will fix them. If there is non-compliance or negligence, we will take action," she said.

Fadhlina said the ministry had already introduced measures to strengthen school safety before the Yong Peng incident, including establishing the Education Institution Safety Reform Committee and introducing 11 additional safety measures.

However, she stressed that committees, standard operating procedures and policies were not enough if they were not properly implemented at school level.

"We do not want safety reforms to stop at meetings, minutes or documents.

"The changes must be felt by students, teachers and parents," she said.

Fadhlina said the ministry would continue examining how its safety measures were being implemented on the ground and take corrective action where weaknesses were identified.

She said Irene's death should reinforce the need for accountability and improvements to school safety.