Perak Education Dept acts over teacher's controversial post on UPSI tragedy
IPOH: The state government has expressed regret over a controversial Facebook post by a teacher at a secondary school in Perak regarding the fatal bus collision that claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students.
The post, widely criticised as insensitive, quickly drew public backlash.
State Education, Higher Education, Youth and Sports Committee chairman Khairudin Abu Hanipah said that once the post went viral, the relevant District Education Office (PPD) contacted the principal of the teacher's school.
He said the PPD also instructed the school counsellor to reach out to the teacher and offer guidance.
"The school principal advised the teacher to delete the post, and upon checking at 8.10pm yesterday, it was confirmed that the post had been removed.
"The Perak State Education Department has requested a full written report from the principal, in accordance with the Education Ministry's circular on crisis management protocols," he said.
He was responding to public outrage over a social media post by the Facebook user, which was deemed to belittle the victims of the accident.
The post has since been deleted, and the user has issued a public apology.
Earlier, Perak police chief Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin said no formal reports had been lodged regarding the post.
"We have a team actively monitoring such content. If any post crosses the line, or if a police report is lodged, we will investigate accordingly," he said.
On Monday, the bus, carrying 42 UPSI students, was travelling from Jertih, Terengganu, to the university's main campus when it collided with a Perodua Alza at KM53 of the East-West Highway.
Thirteen students died at the scene while two others were pronounced dead in hospital.
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