PASIR MAS: The Education Ministry will provide counselling services to the children of Istiqomah Ahmad Rozi, 33, the teacher who was murdered and whose dismembered body was found on Dec 31 in Melaka.
Its minister, Fadhlina Sidek, said the counselling services would be given to the victim's children especially those still schooling.
"On behalf of the Education Ministry, l would like to express our condolences to her family. During today's visit, we also handed a donation to support the family including a donation from the Guru Tun Hussein Onn Foundation (YGTHO).
"We (the ministry) will look at their needs from several aspects and also provide counselling services to her family," she said.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the family at Kampung Kubang Badak here today, Fadhlina said the counselling sessions would be provided continuously.
"I have ordered the Education Department's director-general to handle this. Apart from the foundation's contribution, we will look at other needs, including the pension payment and other welfare benefits, for the late Istiqomah's three children," she added.
She described the murder as a heartbreaking tragedy not only to her family but also to the ministry.
"The late Cikgu Istiqomah was a dedicated teacher and committed to her duties.
She had long served as a teacher in primary schools in Johor in the subject of Design and Technology (RBT). She was committed to her work," said Fadhlina.
Istiqomah's remains were buried at the Kampung Kubang Badak cemetery, here, about midnight last night.
Istiqomah, a teacher at SK Kota Masai 3, was reported missing after she failed to return home from work on Dec 26, 2023.
Earlier this year, the dismembered body of a woman was discovered in a rubbish dumpster along the Alor Gajah-Tampin trunk road, near Kampung Rimau, Pulau Sebang on New Year's Eve.
Police later confirmed that the dismembered body was that of Istiqomah based on DNA analysis. Following this, police arrested a suspect on Aug 5 in Chemor, Perak.
Yesterday (Aug 19), former teacher and foreign currency trader Mohd Fadzly Ariffadzilah was charged with her murder at the Alor Gajah magistrate's court. No plea was recorded as murder cases come under the jurisdiction of the High Court.