KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry today stressed the importance of adhering to guidelines in food handling in schools following two deaths due to food poisoning.
Its minister Fadhlina Sidek told the New Straits Times (NST) that while the religious school where the incident allegedly occurred was not under her ministry, she urged all schools nationwide to ensure food safety procedures are adhered to.
"I express my condolences to the families involved, may they be given the strength and patience to face this difficult situation.
"The incident did not take place in an educational institution under the Education Ministry.
"However, I would like to take this opportunity to remind all leaders, administrators and educational institutions' staff under the ministry to always adhere to the guidelines relating to event organisation and preparation of food (in schools)," she said when contacted.
Earlier, police confirmed receiving two reports of deaths involving a 17-year-old boy and a two-year-old girl, suspected to be from food poisoning related to a religious school in Gombak.
Gombak police chief Assistant Commissioner Noor Ariffin Mohamad Nasir said the teenager had eaten food brought home by his mother after attending a religious programme at the school last Saturday.
He said after consuming the food, the victim and his parents experienced diarrhoea, and at 1.30pm yesterday, the victim lost consciousness.
The second victim, who ate the food brought by her father, who worked as a security guard at the school on Saturday, developed a fever, vomiting, and diarrhoea around 10.45am yesterday (June 10 ).
The bodies of the two victims were sent to the Selayang Hospital Forensic Unit for further examination, and the case has been classified as sudden death.
According to Noor Ariffin, the food involved in both cases was identified as fried bee hoon and eggs.
Meanwhile, Selangor Public Health and Environment Committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin, when contacted said the state government is looking into the issue and awaiting a full report from the state's health department.
She said her office will also monitor the investigation by the department to ensure accurate information and follow-up actions could be done.
"I agree that we should be very careful in food handling procedures as it impacts a big crowd, especially if there are gatherings involving children as they are more sensitive compared to adults.
"The Menteri Besar's office through the Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) is also reaching out to the families to see if there is anything we can do to assist," she said.