THE Selangor government is set to roll out a pilot early intervention programme in two secondary schools in Bandar Utama, including one where a student was fatally stabbed last year, as part of wider efforts to strengthen emotional support systems and improve school safety.
State executive councillor for Public Health and Environment Jamaliah Jamaluddin said the PeerZ pilot initiative is designed to provide peer-based emotional support for students before cases are escalated to counsellors or mental health professionals.
The programme will complement the existing Peer Support Programme, known as Pembimbing Rakan Sebaya (PRS), run by the Selangor education department.
Concerns over school safety and the availability of counselling support were raised during a meeting between state officials and parents following the fatal incident, Jamaliah said.
“PeerZ aims to provide a platform for students to share experiences, challenges and emotional stress with their peers in a safer and more conducive setting,” Malay Mail reported her saying.
“Through this approach, students requiring early support will receive emotional assistance and guidance from peers before being referred to school counselling officers or mental health professionals, should further intervention be necessary,” she told Malay Mail when contacted.
Responding to questions on what assistance had been provided after the death of a 16-year-old student at SMK Bandar Utama Damansara 4, Jamaliah said safeguarding students’ safety, welfare and well-being remains a top priority for the state government as the school community continues to recover.
She said funding for mental health programmes under her public health portfolio has more than doubled, increasing from RM700,000 in 2025 to RM1.5 million in 2026.
The expanded allocation will support pilot initiatives and mental health interventions for both students and teachers.
“This initiative will focus on awareness education, peer support and emotional skills development as part of efforts to cultivate a healthier and more resilient learning environment,” she said, adding that the pilot would be implemented this year, although no specific timeline has been set.
In the wake of the stabbing, Jamaliah said the state government convened a Safety Strengthening Engagement Session on November 19 last year, chaired by Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
The meeting was attended by state leaders, school representatives, Parent-Teacher Associations and relevant government agencies.
“During the session, I also took the opportunity to inform attendees of the follow-up actions on matters raised by the school and the PTA, including aspects of safety, student wellbeing and the need for coordinated action involving multiple agencies,” she said.
“These efforts are aimed at ensuring enhanced safety measures are implemented and that such incidents do not recur.”
Jamaliah also confirmed that the state government has channelled RM17,000 to the school to improve safety measures within the compound, as previously announced by Amirudin.
On October 14, student Yap Shing Xuen was attacked and fatally stabbed in the girls’ washroom of her secondary school after being followed. She later died from multiple stab wounds to the chest and neck.
The killing sent shockwaves across the country and sparked renewed concern about student safety in schools. A 14-year-old student was later charged with her murder at the Magistrates’ Court on October 22. - January 19, 2026
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