THE Ministry of Education (MOE) is undertaking a review of standard operating procedures governing outdoor activities across all institutions under its purview, in a move aimed at strengthening safety measures following a recent fatal incident.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the reassessment comes after a kayaking tragedy that claimed the lives of two trainee teachers from the Institut Pendidikan Guru (IPG) Perlis Campus during an off-campus outdoor education programme at Pantai Merdeka last Saturday.
She stressed that the ministry is taking full responsibility for the incident and has initiated a thorough investigation. “Justice must be upheld for the families.
A transparent, thorough and comprehensive investigation is underway. Any breach of regulations will be subject to action and no one will be protected,” she said in a statement issued by her office.
Fadhlina added that several officers directly involved in organising the programme have been temporarily reassigned to the Perlis State Education Department pending the outcome of investigations.
The minister also paid her final respects to the victims, Christopher Ling Jia Siang and Joey Ling Lin Siang, during a visit to Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, where she met with their families and conveyed her condolences.
The ministry’s review is expected to examine risk management practices, supervision protocols and compliance standards to prevent similar incidents and ensure the safety of students participating in outdoor educational activities. - April 7, 2026
