Fadhlina Under Fire For Failing To Address School Bullying In 13mp Wrap Up

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Opposition lawmakers have reiterated calls for Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek to resign, citing her failure to address concerns on bullying in schools during her winding-up speech on the 13th Malaysia Plan.
In a press conference following the minister’s speech, PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden criticised Fadhlina for not touching on the matter, despite Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul’s offer for extra time.
“When people are talking about such a serious issue (bullying), how is it possible that a minister in charge of schools suddenly does not respond? She didn’t use this opportunity to address an issue that is troubling the public.
“Yes, there are many issues (for the ministry to address), but what harm would it do, if (Fadhlina) was truly concerned, to use the 40 minutes given by the speaker to at least acknowledge this pressing issue that is worrying the rakyat, especially parents?” he lamented.
ADSAlso present at the press conference were PAS’ Kuala Krau MP Kamal Ashaari and Bersatu’s Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal.
Just be professional
Highlighting that Fadhlina shot down his attempt to raise the issue towards the end of her speech, Afnan noted that Johari had previously declined his motion for the lower house to debate the case of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir’s death.
“The speaker said the minister would respond (to queries on the case) during her winding-up speech… but she did not.
“We wanted her to respond to our various proposals on policies and measures (to tackle bullying in schools). We were not asking her to give political answers - that can be done at a ceramah stage. We just wanted professional answers from a minister,” the Alor Setar MP stressed.
PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib AzamuddenHe asserted that Fadhlina’s apparent overlooking of the issue “proves” that she should resign and allow the education minister position to be replaced with someone else.
Protest coming
Earlier, two student groups announced a protest against Fadhlina, with the gathering set to take place outside the Education Ministry’s headquarters in Putrajaya tomorrow morning.
Gabungan Mahasiswa Islam Se-Malaysia (Gamis) and Himpunan Advokasi Rakyat Malaysia (Haram) are demanding her resignation over the allegedly poor handling of Zara’s death case and alleged misplaced priorities in education budget spending.
Bersatu Youth chief Hilman Idham had previously called for Fadhlina and Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to give up their ministerial positions, accusing the duo of failing in their duties to handle investigations into Zara’s death, which has sparked public outrage.
Zara 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 family believes bullying may have played a role in her death. An inquest into her death is set to begin on Sept 3.
- Mkini

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