At the dewan rakyat
Reports by MARTIN CARVALHO, HEMANANTHANI SIVANANDAM, RAHIMY RAHIM and LOSHANA K. SHAGAR 

COMPENSATION to the family of a Form Two student who died after being struck by a blade will only be decided once investigations have been completed, says Datuk Chong Sin Woon (pic).

The Deputy Education Minister said the police would determine if the contractor implicated in the incident should be held responsible for her death.

“We will only know once the process of investigation is completed,” Chong said in his reply to Anthony Loke (DAP-Seremban).

Loke had asked about the compensation to the family of 14-year-old Nur Afini Roslan, who died on the spot after a blade from a lawn tractor broke and fatally struck her on Feb 13.

She was with a group of students at the field of SM Tuanku Abd Rahman when the tragedy occurred.

Chong said Nur Afini’s family received RM5,500 in compensation from takaful insurance on Feb 23.

He also said a circular had been issued, detailing that any maintenance work, including cutting grass, should only be carried out when no students were around.

“The ministry also issued another reminder to all school administrations on Feb 28 this year on the importance of safety in schools,” he said.

Chong added the reminder clearly stated that any carelessness involving the safety of students was against the Public Officers Regulations (Conduct and Discipline) 1993.

“Action will be taken against those responsible. We will not compromise on this matter,” he said, adding the safety of all students was paramount.

Chong said contractors would also be reminded to follow all guidelines while doing maintenance work and that maintenance contracts would be relooked to ensure standard operating procedures were adhered to.

“We will work with other ministries and agencies such as the Department of Occupational Safety and Health and National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.

“Dialogues on safety for school administrators will also be held while students will be reminded that accidents can happen anytime,” he said.

-The Star-