KUALA LUMPUR, October 5, 2026 — The secondary school in Yong Peng, Johor, where a 16-year-old Form Four student was allegedly murdered had closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, but none covered the location where the incident occurred.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek said the Ministry of Education (MOE) was now upgrading the school’s CCTV facilities while investigating the security company appointed by the school to determine whether there had been any breaches of standard operating procedures (SOPs).
She said the ministry was also reviewing the security company’s patrol records and duties carried out on the day of the incident.
“If any breach of the stipulated terms is found, financial penalties or termination of the security contract may be imposed,” she told reporters at the Parliament building today.
Fadhlina said schools with CCTV systems that were damaged or not functioning properly should report the matter to the ministry so that necessary improvements could be made to ensure incidents within school premises could be properly recorded.
She also urged the public to stop spreading unverified information about the case, saying speculation could further distress the victim’s family and the underage suspect, who remains under police investigation.
Fadhlina clarified that claims suggesting the victim had been dragged from a prayer room to the hall, as well as allegations of broken glass at the prayer room, were untrue.
She said the ministry had left the criminal investigation entirely to the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), while stressing that justice must be served for the victim, Irene Sofiya Mohd Khairool Faisal.
Irene Sofiya was found unconscious and covered in blood in the school hall at about 5.30 pm last Saturday after she failed to return home following her extra classes.
She was later pronounced dead at the scene after suffering multiple injuries to her head and body.
A 16-year-old male student was arrested in the Yong Peng area at about 7 pm the same day and has been remanded for six days to assist police investigations under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
The victim was laid to rest at the Kampung Parit Arshad Muslim Cemetery in Batu Pahat yesterday evening, with more than 100 family members, friends, teachers and members of the local community attending the funeral.
Police have yet to establish the motive and circumstances surrounding the incident.
-Bernama
