Form Committee To Control Vendors Outside Schools Says Education Activist

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The death of a student who choked on a piece of candy bought outside his school raises questions about a ban that has been in effect since 2021. (Facebook pic)
PETALING JAYA: Education activists are calling for the formation of a joint committee involving school administrators and local government authorities, such as a town or city council, to tackle the issue of vendors operating just outside schools.

Mak Chee Kin of the Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education (Magpie) said a Year 4 student’s death from choking on a gummy candy bought from a vendor outside his school has raised concerns about the enforcement of a ban, which had been in place since 2021.
“Why are students still able to buy food just outside the school gates? This isn’t about pointing fingers, but to identify whose responsibility it is to ensure that these stalls are not there in the first place,” he told FMT.
On Tuesday, Fahmi Hafiz Fakhruddin bought the candy from a stall outside SK Sungai Dua in Butterworth. He choked on it and was left in critical condition before he passed away at 11pm last night at Penang Hospital.
Mak pointed out that preventing vendors from operating outside schools is beyond the jurisdiction of school administrators and comes under the purview of local councils, which issue the vendors with the relevant business licence.
“Only local councils have the power to act, but how can we rely on (their) enforcement officers who are not always present near schools?”
Yesterday, education director-general Azman Adnan was reported to have said that the education ministry has no authority to remove or shut down vendors, as that falls under the jurisdiction of local government authorities and the health ministry.
He was also quoted as saying that guidelines prohibiting vendors from operating within 40m of school gates and fences were issued by the housing and local government ministry and health ministry.
Mak was of the view that the formation of a joint committee would help convince vendors to comply with the regulations.
“All parties can work together. For instance, if school administrators or the Parent-Teacher Association (PIBG) notice such vendors outside, they can immediately notify the relevant council officer,” he said.
“However, the officers must be efficient and not take hours to respond.”
Mak also urged parents to play their part by educating their children on the risks of buying food from vendors outside school premises.
Meanwhile, National Parent-Teacher Associations Consultative Council (PIBGN) chairman Ali Hassan urged the health ministry to thoroughly review the health risks associated with junk food.
“If these products are found to be safety hazards, appropriate action should be taken, including banning their sale in and around school areas,” he said.
Following the incident, the health ministry clarified that the size and shape of food products are not currently regulated under existing Food Regulations. - FMT

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