Johor schoolgirl death: Malaysia education minister denies online claims surrounding case

Irene Sofiya Mohd Khairool Faisal, 16, was found unconscious and covered in blood in a school hall in Yong Peng last Saturday (Oct 3).

Malaysia's Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek (second, from left) is seen here at a press conference on Oct 5, 2026. (Photo: Facebook/Fadhlina Sidek)

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek on Monday (Oct 5) denied several claims on social media surrounding the death of a 16-year-old schoolgirl in Johor last Saturday as she ordered a security audit of the school involved.

The student, Irene Sofiya Mohd Khairool Faisal, was found unconscious and covered in blood in a school hall in Yong Peng. Three male students, all aged 16, have been arrested over the alleged murder.

On Monday, Fadhlina denied claims that the girl was dragged from a surau – a small Islamic prayer house – to the school hall where she was found. The minister also denied claims that glass at the surau had been broken in connection with the incident, local news outlet New Straits Times (NST) reported.

"I ask everyone to be careful before sharing anything. We are talking about a child who has died, a family that is grieving and several underage students who are going through an investigation process,” said Fadhlina, urging the public to exercise caution before sharing unverified information.

"Let us not add to their pain with speculation.”

Irene’s father, Mohd Khairool Faisal Khyar, 42, made the same appeal when he spoke to the media after her burial at Kampung Arshad Muslim Cemetery in Yong Peng on Sunday. 

Urging the public not to spread inaccurate information, he said the family was leaving the investigation to the police and relevant authorities, and hoped justice could be served, local media reported. 

Khairool said he was working in Bangi, a town in Selangor, when his sister informed him that Irene had been found in critical condition before being pronounced dead. He rushed back to the village to get more information.

He said he last saw Irene about two weeks ago and she “looked cheerful and was happy to be studying”, local media reported.

Fadhlina said the education ministry would cooperate fully with the investigation.

"What the police are investigating, we leave to the police. What falls under the education ministry, we will answer," said Fadhlina.

Fadhlina said her ministry would investigate matters including school security, CCTV coverage, security controls, compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs), discipline and school management.

The school in question has not been named, but Fadhlina reportedly said initial investigations found that while it had CCTVs, none had covered the location where Irene’s body was found.

“I have directed the security and safety aspects of the school to be audited thoroughly,” she said, as reported by Malay Mail.

“This includes entrance control, patrolling, CCTVs, safety protocols compliance as well as the security company’s fulfilment of its obligations on that particular day.”

Her ministry's priority was to establish the facts and ensure accountability for any shortcomings that fell within its jurisdiction, she said.

"If there are gaps, we will fix them. If SOPs were not followed, we will take action. If there was negligence, there must be accountability," she said.

Fadhlina declined to comment on social media claims concerning the family background of one of the students under investigation, stressing the matter should be left to the police, NST reported.

"Do not try or punish them in advance through social media before the legal process is completed," she said.

One of the three suspects was brought to the Magistrate's Court in Johor on Sunday morning, where a six-day remand order was granted until Oct 9. The status of the other two suspects is unclear.

The case is being investigated as murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code, which provides for the death penalty or imprisonment of 30 to 40 years and caning upon conviction.

In Malaysia, the minimum age of criminal responsibility is 10 years old. Under the Child Act 2001, individuals under 18 at the time of the offence cannot be sentenced to death.

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