PETALING JAYA: The education ministry is providing counselling to 14 disabled male students who were victims of molestation at a secondary school hostel in Kepala Batas, Seberang Perai, recently, says deputy education minister Lim Hui Ying.
“In addition to the counsellors at the special needs secondary school, we are also providing counsellors from outside to guide the victims.
“The victims are still in the hostel and they are being closely monitored.
“Let the police investigate the case. The ministry will ensure the victims are well taken care of,” Bernama reported her as saying after presenting awards to students who excelled in their studies at SMK St. Xavier in Kepala Batas, Penang, today.
Last Saturday, police detained a Form 1 student to facilitate investigations into a case involving the molestation of 14 disabled male students at a secondary school hostel in Kepala Batas.
Seberang Perai Utara police chief Asri Shafie said a disabled 13-year-old boy was detained following a police report from the school’s headmaster.
All the victims, aged between 13 and 14, had learning disabilities. They had visual and hearing impairments as well as autism.
Lim said the ministry had made improvements to guidelines at all schools and hostels. This includes having more frequent patrols by hostel wardens to prevent such occurrences.
She said the school concerned had also been directed to prepare a detailed report on the incident and submit it to the ministry.
The Form 1 boy involved in the case has been suspended from school and is staying at home now, she said.
“We do not have a fixed timeframe for the suspension yet. We will wait for the police investigations, which will be announced later. For now, he is back home,” she said.
Last month, an administrative assistant at a primary school in Sarawak was arrested by police for allegedly molesting 15 special needs students.
Sarawak police chief Mancha Ata said 12 reports had been lodged against the suspect, who is in his 40s.
