Fadhlina in tears: 'I’m a mother too' as she rejects bullying claims cover-up

YONG PENG, JOHOR, 5 OCTOBER 2026 —

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek on Thursday tearfully defended the Ministry of Education’s handling of school‑related incidents after the death of 16‑year‑old Irene Sofiya Khairool Faisal in Yong Peng, Johor, saying a lack of media coverage does not mean a case has been abandoned.

Fadhlina, a mother of six, said she was speaking not only as a cabinet member but also as a parent who had sent her own children to government schools. “My children went through the same schooling and education system. They all attended government schools. Like other parents, I used to take my children to school and entrust them to the teachers and the school authorities,” she told reporters.

She added that investigations, disciplinary actions, legal processes and related interventions continue within their respective jurisdictions, regardless of whether a case remains in the public eye. “A case does not simply come to a halt just because it is no longer making headlines or being discussed on social media – we must be clear about that,” she said.

The minister’s comments responded to criticism stemming from statements made last year by Education Ministry director‑general Azam Ahmad, who said many sexual‑harassment and bullying cases in schools had been “swept under the rug.” Fadhlina clarified that Azam’s wording referred to incidents that were reported to teachers, school administrators, counsellors or district and state education officers but were deemed minor, not serious, or temporary.

“When (Azam) said ‘swept under the carpet,’ he didn’t mean that cases were being covered up,” she said. “He was stressing that there have been incidents in schools that were known or reported … but were seen as minor, not serious, or temporary in nature.”

In the Yong Peng incident, Irene, a Form Four student, was found unconscious and bleeding with multiple injuries to her head and body inside the school hall. Police detained three students to facilitate investigations under the murder provision of the Penal Code. The minister said the Ministry of Education would take firm action against the security company that had been contracted to provide security at the school.

She outlined the contractual scope for security firms, which includes controlling entry and exit, patrolling designated areas and adhering to set schedules. “Should any breach of the contract scope be identified, action may be taken in accordance with the stipulated terms – including the issuance of non‑compliance notices, financial penalties and contract termination, provided the relevant conditions are met,” she said.

Fadhlina also disclosed that, although the school is equipped with CCTV cameras, none were installed at the location where the fatal incident occurred. She announced that the Ministry is taking immediate steps to improve CCTV coverage at the school. “The school has CCTV, but there was no CCTV installed at the location where the incident occurred. So, we are making improvements and taking immediate action,” she said.

The minister’s statements come as the education sector faces heightened scrutiny over student safety and the effectiveness of school‑level disciplinary mechanisms. By emphasizing ongoing investigations and contractual enforcement, the ministry signalled its intent to address both the immediate case and broader systemic concerns raised by previous comments from senior officials.

No further details on the progress of the murder investigation or the outcome of any disciplinary proceedings were provided. The Ministry of Education said it would continue to monitor the situation and implement necessary improvements to school security infrastructure.

Related: Ministry of Education