Just yesterday (14 October), a 16-year-old student at a school in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, tragically lost her life after being attacked by a 14-year-old schoolmate.
In response, Perikatan Nasional (PN) has proposed four immediate measures to strengthen student safety in schools after the shocking incident.
In a Facebook post, Perikatan Nasional chairman and former Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said concrete steps must be taken, including setting up an independent committee to uncover the real cause of the tragedy and review weaknesses in existing school safety policies.
He added that the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the Ministry of Education (MOE) should allocate funds to boost school security systems, such as installing CCTV cameras in critical areas and carrying out regular safety patrols.
“Other measures include conducting psychosocial screenings and early intervention programmes for students showing signs of stress, aggression, or violent tendencies. On top of that, safety and crisis management training should be made mandatory for all teachers and school staff so they can respond quickly during emergencies,” he wrote.
He described the loss of a student in what should have been the safest and most nurturing environment as not just a tragedy, but as a serious blow to the nation’s education system, which is meant to safeguard the future of the younger generation.
“The education system and government have failed”
Muhyiddin stressed that this incident wasn’t an isolated case, but a clear sign that the education system and government have failed to function effectively.
“We in PN extend our deepest condolences to the victim’s family. No words can ease their pain, but we pray they find the strength to face this difficult time. All Malaysians share the same grief, anger, and disappointment over the failure of a system meant to keep our children safe,” he said.
He urged the Education Minister to take full responsibility instead of just expressing sympathy, noting the many cases of violence, bullying, and injuries in schools that have gone unaddressed.
He also called on the Minister and top government leaders to personally visit affected schools to show real commitment, not just send representatives.
“Such tragedies must never be treated as normal; a whole-of-government effort is needed to protect students. Every death in a school is proof of policy failure, weak leadership, and institutional negligence. The failure to protect our children isn’t just the ministry’s fault; it’s a moral and collective failure of the entire government. The government should stop with the rhetoric and start taking real action because every day of inaction puts students’ safety at greater risk.”
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