Kamalanathan denies making ‘self-harm’ remark as reported

SEPANG: At no point did I say M. Vasantha Piriya had cut her wrist, clarified Datuk P. Kamalanathan.

The Deputy Education Minister was referring to a news article which reported him as saying that the Penang schoolgirl who died after being accused of stealing her teacher’s mobile phone had slit her wrist two years ago.

“A reporter said she heard that a counsellor’s report on the schoolgirl’s mental health has been submitted.

“When she told me this, I merely responded saying I heard the same, and that I have requested the Penang Education Department to submit all investigation papers to the police to allow them to finish their investigation.

“Never at any point did I say she had cut her wrist,” he said after unveiling the Frog Classroom Makeover 2018 at SMK Dengkil, Sepang yesterday.

“If there is any element of wrongdoing from anyone within the ministry, we will not hesitate to take action against the individual if proven guilty,” he said.

The Form Two SMK Methodist Nibong Tebal student passed away on Feb 1 after being in a coma for seven days at the Seberang Jaya Hospital.

On Monday, Vasantha Piriya’s father R. Muniandy, 54, said he was disappointed with the report allegedly quoting Kamalanathan.

“I wish to know where he got his information from as my daughter never attempted suicide in the past.

“He (Kamalanathan) is not in a position to discuss my child’s mental health,” he said.