Safety audit of all schools
Published on: Tue, Aug 12, 2025 Text Size: Dr Mohd Azam: Findings within three months. Kuala Lumpur: The Ministry of Education (MOE) will carry out an immediate safety audit of all schools, including fully residential institutions and hostels, with findings to be presented to the Ministry's top management within three months. Education Director-General Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad said the audit will focus on compliance with safety-related SOPs.
Advertisement 'The existing complaint system, including the Anti-Bullying Portal, will be reformed,' he said in a statement, Monday. 'It will be simplified and include an anonymous reporting option to protect the identities of complainants and witnesses,' he added. The move follows public outrage over the death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir, who was found unconscious after allegedly falling from the third floor of her school dormitory in Sabah. Her body was later exhumed for a post-mortem amid allegations of bullying, and thousands have rallied for a transparent investigation. The Ministry said it will establish a safety reform committee comprising academics, non-governmental organisations, experts from various fields and police, and representatives from the Parent, Community and Private Sector Involvement network. It also reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance on bullying, saying offenders may face suspension or expulsion, while administrators, teachers and education officers who fail to manage complaints according to guidelines will face disciplinary action. A new intervention programme called Bangkit Bermaruah will be introduced for students suspended from school, focusing on community service and character development. The Ministry said psychosocial support will be strengthened at every level, with guidance and counselling teachers playing a key role in prevention and intervention. It urged all parties to work together to tackle bullying in a comprehensive and coordinated manner, adding that creating a safe school environment is a shared responsibility. At an event in Kuala Terengganu Monday, Dr Mohd Azam ordered all state education directors and district education officers to conduct spot checks on schools to curb bullying. He said the officials have to also visit boarding schools at night not only to monitor but to get to know and understand how boarding school students live. 'Maybe we need to go down without being told. We go to schools, look at the situation there, we want to see the nature of the school, how things happen. We might visit at night to see dormitories,' he told reporters after the Madani Teachers Appreciation event officiated by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek. He added that school principals and headmasters were instructed by the Ministry to lead chants of 'Kami Benci Buli' (We Hate Bullying) before and after each school session to instil a sense of abhorrence for bullying in the hearts and minds of students and pupils. He also revealed that the Ministry would improve security features in schools, especially boarding schools, to curb bullying incidents such as adding the number of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras and the number of dormitory wardens. He urged all parties, including teachers, Parent-Teacher Associations and local communities, to play their roles in ensuring the safety of students in dormitories, especially at night. He also urged the public to refrain from gathering in front of or boycotting SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha in Limauan, Kinarut, Sabah. He said fairness must also be extended to the school's students and teachers, while safeguarding their emotional and psychological well-being. 'I believe the authorities will carry out their duties to the best of their ability. 'At the Ministry level, the Minister will provide full support,' he said. Azam reiterated the Ministry's call for the public to avoid negative actions against the school, such as demonstrations at its premises. He said the Ministry had taken measures to strengthen student safety, including increasing the number of wardens and expediting the installation of closed-circuit television cameras. 'I have directed the Inspectorate Board to conduct daily safety audits for schools and hostels, with immediate reporting.' * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
Philippine lawmaker hails order for e-wallet providers to cut ties with online gambling sites
MANILA: Rep Brian Poe (pic) of the FPJ Panday Bayanihan party-list on Thursday (Aug 14) lauded the decisive action taken by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), led by Deputy Governor Mamerto Tangonan, in directing e-wallet providers to disconnect from online gambling platforms within 48 hours. The announcement was made during a Senate committee hearing earlier this week. The move comes as the House of Representatives considers House Resolution No. 40, authored by Poe, which calls for a comprehensive investigation into the proliferation of online gambling in the country and its social, economic, and legal implications. The resolution specifically seeks to: >Examine the impact of online gambling on public health, particularly its role in fostering gambling addiction among the youth and vulnerable sectors. >Review the adequacy of existing laws and regulations governing online gaming and digital payment systems. >Identify and address systemic loopholes that enable the continued operation of unregulated or under-regulated gambling platforms. >Recommend policy and legislative measures to strengthen regulatory oversight and enforcement, including possible amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act and related financial regulations. 'This is a welcome development as it reinforces the intent of House Resolution No. 40,' Poe said. 'There is a pressing need to tighten regulations on digital transactions related to gaming, especially with the growing concerns over the rapid proliferation of online gambling and the ease of access provided through digital payment channels,' he added. The BSP's order underscores the urgency of the issues raised in HR No. 40, particularly the intersection of online gambling operations and financial technology platforms. Without stronger safeguards, Poe warned, the nation's youth and marginalised communities remain exposed to exploitation and financial harm. 'The BSP's action is proof that decisive measures can and must be taken,' Poe added. 'It's about time we act collectively — across both the executive and legislative branches — to close the gaps that allow these operations to thrive and to ensure our financial systems are not misused to fuel addiction.' Poe reaffirmed his commitment to work with regulatory agencies, financial institutions, and fellow lawmakers to craft balanced, effective legislation that will protect public welfare while ensuring the integrity of the country's financial system. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
Malay Mail
6 hours ago
- Malay Mail
‘Sexual predator': Former Singapore teacher jailed for taking student to hotel, targeting two other teens on social media
SINGAPORE, Aug 14 — A former secondary school teacher has received a nine-month jail sentence after prosecutors described him as a 'sexual predator' who targeted three teenage girls in 2021. The 33-year-old pleaded guilty to four charges under the Children and Young Persons Act on August 11, according to digital online news site AsiaOne. He cannot be named due to a gag order protecting victims' identities. The Ministry of Education told AsiaOne the man stopped working as a teacher in March 2022. The court heard he used social media to contact former students, sending inappropriate messages and proposing sexual encounters to two girls aged 16 and 17. Both rejected him and reported his behaviour. In the most serious case, he met a 15-year-old current student at a hotel where he made unwanted sexual advances before stopping when she showed discomfort. Deputy Public Prosecutor Bryan Wong said one victim now struggles with relationships and studying, requiring medical leave and sleeping medication. 'This incident has severely impacted her ability to study and will have lasting ramifications on her prospects,' Wong said. The man is slated to start his jail term on September 1.
Daily Express
14 hours ago
- Daily Express
Tiong orders crackdown on illegal Sabah tourism ops
Published on: Thursday, August 14, 2025 Published on: Thu, Aug 14, 2025 Text Size: Tiong joins enforcement officers on a sea patrol in Tawau to inspect boats for valid permits and safety compliance. Kuala Lumpur: Several tour companies in Tawau, Sabah, previously believed to be locally owned, have been found to be run by Chinese investors and linked to illegal activities, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing revealed. He said some operators had built over-water chalets without permits, run aquaculture farms without approval and set up unlicensed homestays on agricultural or livestock land. The findings came after a joint enforcement operation in Tawau involving the Ministry's Tourism Licensing and Enforcement Division, the Immigration Department, the Royal Malaysia Police and other agencies. 'I received numerous complaints about irregularities and illegal activities at tourist sites, which are damaging the safety reputation of Malaysia's tourism industry,' Tiong said in a Facebook post. Operating without proper certification, he warned, posed serious safety and management risks, and could lead to tragedy if accidents occur. Tiong urged local authorities to act swiftly, investigate suspicious operations and shut down businesses without valid licences. While welcoming foreign investment in tourism, he stressed it must be done legally and in full compliance with Malaysian laws. 'Welcoming investors does not mean turning a blind eye. Whether they are from China or anywhere else, those involved in illegal activities, malpractice or the misuse of rental licences to evade the law will not be tolerated,' he said. He added that tour operators found to have broken the law could face permanent licence revocation if there was firm evidence. Local tourism operators and workers were also reminded not to risk their livelihoods by leasing or lending their licences. During the Tawau operation, enforcement teams inspected 30 buses and tourist vehicles, 15 tourism business premises, 40 boats and four jetties, issuing nine summonses. Tiong said he personally joined inspections of buses, tour guides and tour package counters at the airport, and issued fines to several tour groups and buses suspected of offences. Sea patrols were also conducted, with enforcement teams boarding five boats and finding some over capacity, without valid permits or carrying unverified documents. Roadblocks were set up to check bus permits and driving licences, while premises and moored vessels were inspected for valid licences, documentation and safety equipment. Tiong said Malaysia's tourism sector was vital to the economy and the safety reputation of the industry must be safeguarded without compromise. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
