KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian students living in Thailand, who cross Sungai Golok via illegal routes daily to attend school in Malaysia, will be accommodated in hostels.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek stated that discussions are ongoing with the students' families to place them in suitable dormitories to ensure their safety and uninterrupted education.
"This is a very crucial and significant action for us to implement to ensure their safety is guaranteed and at the same time, they can continue their education," she said at a press conference after the Launching of the Sahsiah Ambassador Kit in Sentul on Monday (Nov 25).
This initiative is one of the initial steps taken for students under the management of the Education Ministry following the National Security Council's decision to enforce a ban on using illegal crossings along Sungai Golok from Dec 1.
"For me, the matter must be resolved before Dec 1, so I have asked the director-general to ensure that the Kelantan State Education Department provides the dormitories," she added.
Fadhlina also mentioned that students involved need valid passes to cross the gazetted border routes.
Reports indicate nearly 500 students from Thailand utilise illegal crossings at locations like Jambu, Ibrahim Pencen and Paun, with a boat charge of RM1 imposed on students.
In another development, Fadhlina asserted that the Education Ministry will not tolerate any administrators, including school principals, concealing cases of student drug involvement.
She emphasised that according to the standard operating procedure, every disciplinary case involving a crime must be reported to the District Education Office and the Kelantan State Education Department before the school engages with parents and the community.
"So cases cannot be hidden, they must be reported and we have asked PPD and JPN to also pay attention to this issue," she said, commenting on the tactics of drug trafficking syndicates targeting school students.
Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department director Datuk Wan Hassan Wan Ahmad noted an increase in student involvement in criminal activities, particularly bullying and gangsterism.
He stated that from January to June this year, 237 students were involved in violent crimes such as rioting, criminal threats, extortion, brawling and mischief.
During the same period, 799 students reported being victims of rape.
"Although the number is small compared to the actual number of primary and secondary school students which exceeds five million, it is important to take preventive actions to curb any increase in future," he said. - Bernama
