Kota Kinabalu: The absence of CCTV footage has raised fresh questions over whether Malaysia’s school security system is protecting students or merely giving the vague appearance of protection.
Likas Assemblyman Tham Yun Fook was commenting on the recent case of Form Four student Irene Sofiya Mohd Khairool Faisal who was found dead inside her high school hall in Johor last weekend.
“The school had CCTVs installed but that the particular location was outside its coverage, reflecting the failure of the Education Ministry to identify and secure areas where students could be at risk,” he said.
He questioned how many more students must become victims before the Ministry treats school safety as a crisis requiring decisive action rather than another round of investigations, assurances and promises to strengthen procedures.
Tham said the tragedy should not be viewed as an isolated case, citing the repeated occurrence of bullying, abuse, violence and deaths involving students in schools and hostels in recent years.
“Every time a tragedy happens, the public hears the same promises of an investigation will be conducted, firm action will be taken and SOPs will be strengthened, but still the tragedies continue,” he said.
The former senior education officer said the recurring incidents suggested that existing measures had failed to tackle the underlying weaknesses in the system.
He challenged the Ministry to explain why potentially dangerous or secluded areas within school compounds were not adequately monitored, why security systems had failed to provide earlier warning and why bullying remained a persistent problem despite years of campaigns and awareness programmes.
“The issue is no longer simply about determining who should be investigated after a tragedy.
“The bigger question is why the system that was supposed to protect students failed to do so,” he said.
He also revived his proposal for a Bipartisan Committee on Bullying and Student Safety to be established at school, district and State levels.
The committee, he said, should bring together the Ministry, school administrators, Parent-Teacher Associations (PIBG), government and opposition representatives, civil society groups and other stakeholders to ensure continuous and transparent monitoring without political interference.
Tham said recommendations from outside the Ministry must no longer be brushed aside, warning that bureaucratic defensiveness could come at a heavy cost.
“The Ministry cannot continue defending the existing system every time a tragedy occurs while ignoring constructive proposals for improvement,” he said.
He called on the Education Minister to assume political and moral responsibility for repeated failures and demanded a nationwide safety audit covering all schools and hostels.
He also urged greater transparency in reporting bullying cases and called for those found negligent to be held accountable.
Tham said public confidence in KPM’s ability to safeguard students was being eroded with every recurring incident.
