'Turun!' chants echo as Fadhlina accepts school safety memorandum

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has accepted a memorandum on school safety as chants demanding her resignation filled the air in a moment defined by mutual defiance from both sides.

The memorandum handover saw Fadhlina receiving a copy of the document alongside her deputy, Wong Kah Woh, as well as several security personnel and officers just outside the Parliament gates this morning.

The crowd of students, activists, and concerned members of the public had begun gathering outside the Parliament building at around 11.20am after a short protest march from Taman Tugu, during which repeated calls were made for Fadhlina to vacate her ministerial post.

Tensions were heightened further when the group of about 35 individuals were made to wait approximately 40 minutes for Fadhlina’s arrival, with unfavourable weather conditions only adding to frustrations.

Cries of “turun, turun!” (step down) rang out as Fadhlina was seen approaching the Parliament gates, with protesters neither slowing down their volume nor showing signs of losing steam as the seemingly composed minister briefly spoke with a group representative over the memorandum’s demands.

Activist Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam, who leads the Pocket of Pink organisation, said they want nothing less than for the minister to walk the talk.

“The minister gave her commitment that she would fulfil our demands, (but) we don’t want empty promises - we want reformation.

“If Fadhlina is unable to implement our reform demands within 30 days, she should step down and be replaced by someone capable of restoring Malaysians’ trust in the national education system,” Ain told reporters.

Fadhlina declined to speak with the media after receiving the memorandum.

Prior to her arrival, only two other lawmakers came down to accept the memorandum - opposition MPs Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal and Awang Hashim.

PN calling for special Dewan session

Wan Fayhsal, who was recently suspended from Bersatu, said students and parents’ anxiety amid a spike in violent cases on school premises is justified, claiming that the government’s response to the situation has been “disappointing”.

“Perikatan Nasional is pushing for a special session to discuss the safety of our children in schools, (and) we’re hoping the public can aid in pushing the Dewan Rakyat speaker to allow this session.

“We should call in psychologists, teachers, parents, as well as students (to provide their insights) and help us formulate proper policies… I’m sure the backbenchers will agree with this proposal,” he told reporters.

The Machang MP added, however, that if the special parliamentary session fails to materialise, the opposition will not hesitate to support calls for Fadhlina’s resignation.

11 demands

The memorandum, prepared by the Sekretariat Sekolah Selamat, asserted that the national student safety crisis is no longer a matter of discipline or isolated misconduct, but a “systemic failure” that requires comprehensive, inter-ministerial, and law-based reform.

As such, it put forth 11 key demands, including the enactment of a national Anti-Bullying Act, specific legislation to address sexual harassment in schools, effective mental and psychosocial support, child-friendly reporting mechanisms, and school safety audits.

It also backed comprehensive sex and reproductive health education, regular mental health assessments for students and teachers, mental well-being and emotional intelligence education in curricula, the establishment of a safe schools commission, and community-based approaches.

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