PAS Apologises for Pupil Saiful Syazani's Death

KANGAR, 5 APRIL, 2011: Perlis PAS today apologised to all Malaysians over a seven-year-old pupil's death two days after he was allegedly severely punished by an ustaz (religious teacher) at the party-run Sekolah Rendah Islam Al Furqanm in Jejawi, near here.



State PAS commissioner Hashim Jasin said the party also wished to apologise to all teachers over the tragic incident which had tarnished the image and public perception of teachers.

Saiful Syazani Saiful Sopfidee died at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Setar last Sunday after he was believed to have been assaulted by the ustaz, who was also the school hostel's warden, on Thursday during an investigation into a theft case.

"The incident is shocking to us after having been running the school for 25 years now," said Hashim after attending the state assembly sitting, here, today.

Hashim, who is also Sanglang assemblyman, said Perlis PAS hoped for a thorough investigation into the case in seeking justice for all concerned.

The chairman of the school's Board of Governors, Rus'sele Eizan, said they had taken appropriate measures to ensure that all the learning institutions owned by the party (PAS) were smoothly run and safe for everyone.

Meanwhile, Arau Umno division chief and former Perlis menteri besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim hoped that all religious schools appoint only eligible teachers to ensure that such an incident would not recur.

"All the teachers hired must go through proper teacher training even though they are academically highly qualified," he said.



-- BERNAMA