Perlis PAS today apologised to all Malaysians over a seven-year-old pupil’s death two days after he was allegedly severely punished by an ustaz (religious teacher) at the party-run Sekolah Rendah Islam Al Furqanm in Jejawi, near Kangar.

State PAS commissioner Hashim Jasin said the party also wished to apologise to all teachers over the tragic incident which had tarnished the image and public perception of teachers.

Saiful Syazani Saiful Sopfidee died at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Setar last Sunday after he was believed to have been assaulted by the ustaz, who was also the school hostel’s warden, on Thursday during an investigation into a theft case.

“The incident is shocking to us after having been running the school for 25 years now,” said Hashim after attending the state assembly sitting in Kangar today.

Hashim, who is also Sanglang assemblyperson, said Perlis PAS hoped for a thorough investigation into the case in seeking justice for all concerned.

The chairman of the school’s Board of Governors, Rus’sele Eizan, said they had taken appropriate measures to ensure that all the learning institutions owned by the party (PAS) were smoothly run and safe for everyone.

Meanwhile, Arau Umno division chief and former Perlis menteri besar Shahidan Kassim hoped that all religious schools appoint only eligible  teachers to ensure that such an incident would not recur.

“All the teachers hired must go through proper teacher training even though they are academically highly qualified,” he said.

Earlier today, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein assured Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin that a thorough investigation would be carried out into the death of the pupil of a religious school in Perlis.

Hishammuddin said a directive had already been issued to the police to carry out a thorough investigation into the case that has been classified as murder.

He said he was aware of the concern raised by Muhyiddin, who is also the education minister, when it involved the death of students.

"I can understand his (Muhyiddin) sensitivity towards the incident because I too had held the education minister's post and know the kind of questions and concern that will be raised or asked," he said after attending a Housing and Local Government Ministry's safe city programme in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said nobody would be spared during the course of investigation under the law, especially so when it involves the death of children or students.

Police have since detained the teacher to facilitate investigations.

- Bernama