KUALA LUMPUR, August 13 — The Ministry of Education (MOE) has firmly denied allegations of protecting any parties in school bullying incidents, reaffirming its zero-tolerance stance.
Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh told the Dewan Rakyat that the ministry has “never attempted to protect anyone involved,” in response to concerns raised by Semporna MP Tan Sri Shafie Apdal over the ongoing case of 13-year-old Zara Qairina.
Wong stressed that MOE is fully prepared to cooperate with police investigations and has in place regularly updated guidelines to tackle bullying and other disciplinary issues in schools. Zara reportedly fell from the third floor of her school dormitory in Papar on July 16 and died the following day, sparking public outrage amid allegations of bullying and a possible cover-up.
Her remains were exhumed on Saturday evening at the Tanjung Ubi Muslim Cemetery in Kampung Mesapol, Sipitang, before being sent to Queen Elizabeth I Hospital for a post-mortem examination, as investigations into her death continue.
