Raja Zarith calls for checks on students at school in abuse case
JOHOR BARU: Johor Permaisuri Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah has directed that the state Health Department check on the other students at the private religious school in Kota Tinggi.
She gave the directive to Johor Health, Environment, Information and Education Committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat when she visited Mohamad Thaqif Amin Mohd Gaddafi, 11, at Hospital Sultan Ismail yesterday.
Doctors had to amputate Mohamad Thaqif’s legs which were badly damaged by bacterial infection, allegedly the result of being beaten with a water hose by the school’s assistant warden.
The boy is now in danger of losing his right arm at the elbow due to the infection.
Ayub said Raja Zarith was concerned about the health and condition of the other students and did not want a repeat of Mohamad Thaqif’s case.
“She wants health checks on the other students to identify those who might be suffering from a similar experience and to prevent their condition from worsening,” he said.
Ayub said he had instructed the state Health Department to take immediate action.
Raja Zarith spent about 40 minutes at the high dependency ward where the boy was warded and learnt about his condition from his family members.
She was seen wiping away tears as she left the ward.
Ayub said the religious school should take proactive action by sending its students to a clinic or hospital for a health check instead of waiting for the department to act.
“I am still waiting for a report on the boy and his condition, and I believe this will be available in the next one or two weeks.
“Only after that will we be able to determine a plan for his future,” he said.
He said Raja Zarith also wanted special prayers (solat hajat) to be conducted at all mosques and surau in the state on Friday to pray for Mohamad Thaqif’s speedy recovery.