Safety features in Putrajaya schools must be improved: Mahdzir

Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid has instructed that safety features in the design of school buildings in Putrajaya be enhanced, especially relating to sliding aluminium windows and corridors.

Mahdzir, who today visited Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Presint 9 (2) here where a student was killed after falling off the third floor of a classroom block, said safety features at this particular school must be reviewed because the design was based on the developer's proposal and differed from conventional Public Work Department designs.

He said classrooms with aluminium sliding windows were found wanting in the safety aspects while there were ledges outside corridor railings which students could step on.

Speaking to reporters, Mahdzir said, based on his visit, he conceded that the safety aspects at the school were poor, especially in terms of building design.

He thus instructed Education Department director-general Tan Sri Dr Khair Mohammad Yusof to look into methods that could be utilised to improve the safety features of the classrooms.

He said the directive did not apply only to schools in Putrajaya but also includes all schools with sliding windows and ledges outside.

In the 9.40am incident today, Azim Hakimi Abu Shuja, 15, apparently lost his balance and fell while trying to retrieve his friend's school bag from the ledge of a corridor of the four-storey classroom building after it was thrown out by another friend.

To a question, Mahdzir said the victim was in his classroom waiting to be called for a PT3 Bahasa Melayu Oral Test when the incident happened.

His remains were buried at the Precinct 20 Islamic Cemetery after the Asar prayers today.