KOTA BARU: Pandemonium reigned at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Ketereh again today when 30 students were overcome by bouts of hysteria.
The incident, the third such occurrence this month, took place at about 12pm during recess when a Form Three student started screaming in her classroom.
A source from the school said by the time the student was brought the school’s surau (prayer room), the hysteria had ‘spread’ to dozens of other students.
“Almost 30 students were ‘possessed’. They cried and screamed,” said the source, adding that most of the students were involved in the previous two mass hysteria outbreaks.
One of the student’s mothers, who only wanted to be known as Zainab, 40, said she wants the school’s management to take immediate measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
She said although her child was not involved in the outbreaks, the incidents had taken a toll on her child’s studies and focus in school.
“I sympathise with the affected students but I hope the school will take steps (to prevent a recurrence). So far, they have conducted special prayers (solat hajat) and recitation of the Yassin,” she said when met here today.
Meanwhile, one of the school’s students, who only wanted to be known as Siti, said she has been attending classes as usual despite being overcome by hysteria last week.
She said after the ‘attack’, her parents urged her to stay at home to recuperate and regain her strength.
“Most of my peers become weak and tired after the episodes. I am afraid of coming back to school unless the situation improves,” she said.