NIBONG TEBAL: The authorities have initiated a probe into a viral video showing several students of a Penang secondary school vandalising properties on the last day of school yesterday.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the school and the district education office (PPD) were fully aware of the incident and that she had spoken to the PPD officer on the matter.
She said the boys in the viral video, along with their parents, had been called in by the school.
"Firstly, the school's action is to call in the students and their parents for a probe and probably to provide guidance and counselling, which I think is important because from what we see (in the viral video), it is something that should not have happened.
"We will not compromise in any acts of vandalism and violence," she told reporters at SJK(T) Nibong Tebal today.
She presented early school aid courtesy of Nationgate to 150 students from five Tamil primary schools in the Jawi state constituency for the new school year next month.
Fadhlina hoped all quarters would stop sharing the video to protect the identity of the students, as well as the school.
"I hope everyone takes down the viral video (from their social media platforms) so that we can focus on rehabilitating the students and provide counselling."
Asked for her advice so that such action would not be turned into a culture, Fadhlina said she did not think of it as a culture.
"I think there are other factors that led the students to do what they did.
"But we will investigate. The PPD officer is here and the matter is within his knowledge. He is closely monitoring the actions being taken against the children.
"So I don't think this is a culture and I believe it should not be turned into a culture in any school.
"What we want is the ABC culture — 'anak baik dan cerdik'."
It was reported that a group of secondary school students "celebrated" the last day of school yesterday by damaging school equipment and facilities.
In a video that went viral on social media, the students are seen kicking and breaking the door, and damaging some chairs. They also also seen breaking the fan and laughing.
It is understood that the students are fifth formers.