Parents Angry Over Covid 19 Outbreak At Mrsm Soon After Govt Carnival

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The crowd at the Keluarga Malaysia carnival held at the Batu Pahat MRSM from Feb 17 to Feb 19.PETALING JAYA: Parents of SPM students at the Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) in Batu Pahat are angry over its temporary closure by health authorities due to a Covid-19 outbreak just days after a Keluarga Malaysia carnival was held there.
According to some of the parents, 13 male students and one female student had been confirmed positive for Covid-19 following RTK-Antigen tests.
They told FMT that at least 50 students have complained of fever and vomiting after the first four positive cases were reported yesterday.
The Keluarga Malaysia carnival, which was attended by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and higher education minister Noraini Ahmad, took place from Feb 17 to Feb 19.
On social media, netizens shared a notice from the health ministry stating that the girls’ hostel at the Batu Pahat MRSM was closed from Feb 24 to March 2.
A parent who did not wish to be named told FMT that a similar notice was pasted at the male dormitory as well.
She claimed two Form 5 teachers had spread the virus to other students over the last few days.
According to her, the school management did not notify parents of the Covid-19 outbreak in the MRSM and that they only knew about it from their children.
Another mother told FMT she was worried about how the situation at the hostels would affect her son’s preparation for the SPM examinations, which is scheduled to take place from March 2 to 29.
Meanwhile, parents told FMT the district health office (PKD) had informed them that the nomination event in conjunction with the Johor state elections would be held at the school hall tomorrow.
The PKD told the concerned parents that it was okay to proceed with the nomination event at the school hall as the dormitories were located far away.
“How can this be? It’s clear the closure notice is until March 2. So, how can the school hall still be used by outsiders? The entire college premises should be closed to the public.”
In a Facebook post today, the management at Batu Pahat MRSM said there were no students involved in the Keluarga Malaysia carnival, and that the outbreak was not linked to the event.
FMT has reached out to them and the Johor education department for comment. - FMT

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