MOE PROBING DEATH OF PUPIL AFTER FALL INTO SEWAGE PIT AT NILAI SCHOOL

NILAI, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Education (MOE), together with the Negeri Sembilan Education Department (JPNS), has taken full responsibility to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident involving a boy who died after falling into a sewage pit at a school in Lenggeng.

Its Minister Fadhlina Sidek said further action would be taken immediately upon completion of the investigation to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.

She said the MOE was conducting a school safety audit through the School Safety Reform Committee, which was also monitoring the matter closely.

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“The MOE expresses its condolences to the victim’s family. This tragedy has deeply affected us all, as it involves the safety of children in schools,” she told reporters in Kampung Masjid, Lenggeng here today.

Earlier, Fadhlina, accompanied by Education director-general Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad, Daily School Management Division director Datuk Amzan Abd Malek, JPNS director Khalidah Omar and several state executive council members, visited the family of Abdul Fatah Khairol Rizal in the village.

According to media reports, the nine-year-old boy died after falling into the uncovered sewage pit at the school yesterday morning.

Following the incident, Mohd Azam, in a statement yesterday, reminded all school administrators, district education offices and state education departments to ensure that school facilities were safe.

Nilai District Police Chief Supt Abdul Malik Hasim reportedly said today that eight witnesses had so far been called to give their statements, and that the case was being investigated under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 (Act 611).

Meanwhile, Fadhlina extended her appreciation to 35-year-old Muhammad Arsyad Jahaya, who dived into the sewage pit at the school in an effort to save Abdul Fatah.

In the meantime, Abdul Fatah’s mother, Norfazila Md Lajin, 43, expressed gratitude for the concern and moral support extended by MOE staff and the public.

“The minister (Fadhlina) told me that she had asked the state education director to handle the insurance matter and carry out a thorough investigation,” she said.

Norfazila also hoped that immediate action would be taken by the authorities to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.

--BERNAMA