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THE four students suspected of being involved in a rape case at a secondary school in Malacca recently should be allowed to sit for their exams - experts said.
A criminologist and an academic told The Vibes that Education Minister Fadlina Sidek acted within her responsibilities when stressing that the students who are currently under remand must sit for their SPM examination on November 3.
Fadlina had said that the decision was made after discussions with the police and state education department, to ensure the students are allowed to proceed with their studies.
However, the statement from Fadlina was not well received by the public who accused the first time minister as being insensitive towards the victim with some calling for her resignation.
Criminologist, Kamal Affendy Hashim when contacted said there was nothing wrong with Fadlina’s statement adding that it is a mandatory for anyone entering correctional facilities without education qualifications to undergo classes and exams.
He said the video clip of the interview with the press was too short thus causing unnecessary reaction from the public regarding the minister’s real intention.
“The public has to know that anyone who is being sent to a correctional institution must sit for exams. For instance, if they have not taken their SPM prior to entering the facility, they are required to undergo classes before taking their SPM inside the facility.”
“I am not defending the minister for the sake of defending. What she said was true. Maybe some would regard her as being insensitive, and her press secretary has to come out with a statement explaining what transpired during the short interview."
Asked if the students - who have now been expelled from their school - should still be allowed to sit for their SPM, Kamal said they are still required to take their exams at their correctional institution based on the government’s correctional policy.
“As far as I am concerned, what the minister said was correct. Even if they are found guilty at the end of the court process they will still have to sit for their exams (in their correctional institution) later,” he said.
All four students expelled
Earlier today, Education director-general Azam Ahmad said all four students allegedly involved in the gang rape have been expelled following a decision by the school’s disciplinary board.
Last Saturday, Melaka police chief Dzulkhairi Mukhtar said the four suspects have since been remanded until Oct 16 to assist in the investigation over the gang rape of a Form 3 girl in a classroom at their school.
The investigation is being done under Section 375B of the Penal Code for gang rape, punishable by 10 to 30 years in prison upon conviction.
The suspects reportedly committed the offence on the 15-year-old victim at about 2.50pm on Oct 2, while she was headed to her classroom to collect something she had left behind.
Two of the suspects reportedly watched and recorded the incident with their handphones.
Meanwhile, academic Dr Mohd Tajudin Mohd Rasdi mirrored Kamal’s sentiment saying that the underage suspects must not be denied from sitting for their exams.
Citing his experience as a committee member of an examination board at a university, Tajudin said as long as the case is being investigated and the suspects have yet to be found guilty, they should be allowed to take their exams.
“They must be allowed to take it. Let the investigation take place and we hope for a transparent investigation which I am sure will happen.”
“Even in universities, if one is accused of misconduct, that person must be allowed to finish his papers under strict supervision. Only after the exams are done, the investigation papers are processed. This would ensure that if the person is innocent, the results shall remain valid and if otherwise, it shall be rendered null and void,” he said.
A crime must be punished, says Azalina
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Transformation), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said today assured that the suspects will be punished in accordance with existing legal provisions under the Penal Code.
She added that the age factor of under 18 years is not a merit for the suspects to escape any action.
"It is not that the perpetrators under 18 years of age can be free if they commit a crime. This is a misunderstanding that many people have.
"Wrong is still wrong, evil is still evil. The punishment will still be imposed, but the court (for the charge proceedings and trial of the case) may be different," she said. - October 13, 2025