Education Ministry will not intervene in cases of students probed by police

He said the school heads had been reminded not to cover-up any activity involving students who have broken the law or school regulations.

"The ministry always views seriously the involvement of students in gangster groups, drug and substance abuse, and collaborating with negative elements.

"As far as possible, we will help, including giving counselling," Mahdzir told reporters at a press conference held after giving a keynote address at the 56th School Heads Education Management national conference here today.

He was commenting on the detention by the police of 13 secondary school students in Klang yesterday for involvement in gangster groups.

Mahdzir said although student involvement in gangsterism was still under control, parents should be aware of their children''s activities after school hours.

On a separate issue, Mahdzir said the Education Ministry would streamline the History subject to fill the five-year gap between independence in 1956 to 1963 on the participation of Sabah and Sarawak in the formation of Malaysia (with Malaya).

He said many facts had not been included, leading to the present generation not understanding the involvement of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysia.

Earlier, in his keynote address, Mahdzir said the cases of students becoming involved in gangsterism were only in certain areas and the consumption of ketum water occurred more in the northern states of the peninsula.