HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS ORDERED TO END OUTBOUND TRAINING
Higher Education Ministry to probe, evaluate SOP of such activities
THE Higher Education Ministry yesterday directed all higher education institutes to terminate outbound training or any activity related to it.
Its deputy minister, Datuk Dr Mary Yap Kain Ching, made the announcement after visiting Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) student Muhammad Haziq Redzuan, one of the victims of the Janda Baik Lata Charok waterfall tragedy.
“The directive takes immediate effect. The ministry will conduct an investigation and evaluate the standard operating procedure of the implementation of such activities,” she said.
On May 13, 140 Sports Science students and four lecturers of the institution were camping at the site when a tree fell on them, killing two and injuring five.
The deceased were Muhammad Kamil Md Sukri and Noorain Mohtar.
Haziq, 21, who suffered brain haemorrhage, was sent to Kuala Lumpur Hospital (KLH) while the other four were taken to Bentong Hospital.
KLH Neurosurgery Department medical officer Dr Paul Vijayandran said the surgery went smoothly and Haziq was recovering.
When asked if the family had plans to take legal action against UiTM, Redzuan said he had not thought about it.
In Kuantan, Universiti Malaysia Pahang deputy vice-chancellor (student and alumni affairs) Professor Datuk Dr Yuserrie Zainuddin said the institute had always sat down with those planning to organise outdoor activities to ensure they were safe and followed protocols. Additional reporting by T.N. Alagesh