Fadhlina S School Safety Push Just Syok Sendiri Says Ngo

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Youth group Mandiri has accused the Education Ministry of being “syok sendiri” (self-absorbed) for failing to properly engage with relevant quarters when formulating policies aimed at ensuring students’ welfare.
Mandiri coordinator Hamdin Nordin claims that the Education Ministry’s safe school programmes seem to be falling short, as pertinent input had not been sought from relevant stakeholders.
“We are demanding that whenever a policy is formulated for schools, there must be an element of engagement involving student movements and civil society organisations in discussions,” Hamdin said on a KiniTV podcast interview.
“Without this engagement, the ministry is just ‘syok sendiri’ - they feel that they have done their best (in establishing policies), when in fact, it is not yet the best.
“That is why we believe the current policies (on safe schools) are nothing more than ‘syok sendiri’ policies from the Education Ministry,” he added.
Hamdin NordinHe also criticised Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, claiming that while the minister touts policies on school safety in Parliament, she has failed to ensure proper implementation.
Hamdin said that when representatives from the group met with Fadhlina recently as part of their efforts to seek justice and answers over the death of Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir in Sabah, the minister had pointed to existing safe schools policies.
“(Fadhlina) said we already have a safe school policy… but, in the end, the policy has not saved anyone. A good policy, if not implemented properly, becomes useless… it serves no purpose.
“In the end, it only remains as a paper for parliamentary presentations and guidelines, but it is not put into practice in schools. What is the point in having many policies on school safety, (but) issues still occur?” he asked.
He also urged Fadhlina to take on some groundwork by visiting schools and communities in Sabah to better identify the plight of the rakyat and their grievances. 
“The minister can also directly hear the demands from the people of Sabah who are disappointed and angry over (the handling of) Zara’s case,” he added.
Zara Qairina MahathirZara was found unconscious in a drain below her school dormitory in Papar on July 16 and died the following day at Queen Elizabeth Hospital I in Kota Kinabalu.
Her death, which is suspected to be linked to bullying, has sparked nationwide outrage, with many demanding accountability for the incident as well as stronger measures to counter bullying in educational institutions.
Police have since confirmed that a special task force from Bukit Aman will take over investigations into Zara’s death, while the Attorney-General’s Chambers has ordered an inquest into her death.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay today said three senior police officers involved in the preliminary investigation into Zara’s death are suspected of flouting standard operating procedures when investigating the case. - Mkini

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