Suspension of LPM director, deputy director apt to facilitate probe

The National Union of Teaching Profession (NUTP) described the government's decision in suspending the service of two top heads of the Malaysian Examinations Syndicate (LPM) following the leaks in this year's Primary School Achievement Test (UPSR) examination papers as an appropriate and efficient move.

NUTP secretary-general Lok Yim Pheng said the move was important to restore public confidence, especially as it involved almost half a million pupils.

"This is a very quick and efficient move taken by the government, hence proving that it views the matter very seriously.

"However, we hope the government will investigate the root cause of the problem because although suspended, it does not prove that the LPM director and deputy director are guilty," Lok told Bernama here on Friday.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today announced that LPM director Dr Na'imah Ishak and deputy director of operations Dr Wan Ilias Wan Salleh had been suspended with immediate effect until investigations on the leaks of the 2014 UPSR examination papers was completed.

The leaks had resulted in the cancellation of the English and Science papers and the students having to resit the papers on Sept 30.

Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said Education deputy director-general (Teaching Professionalism Development Sector) Datuk Misrah Ibrahim would take over the duties and responsibilities of the LPM director during the period of suspension.

NUTP also commended Muhyiddin for apologising for the leaks of the examination papers, describing it as a brave and responsible move.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Institute of Integrity Datuk Dr Mohd Tap Salleh said the action taken by the Education Ministry was commendable.

"The suspension is needed to enable detailed investigation to be carried out. This is a big case, so when the investigators want to carry out probe, we have to suspend the service of those involved to enable the investigation to run smoothly. It does not mean that they are guilty, it is just to ease the investigation process," he said.

Mohd Tap said the public should look into the hidden agenda of those who leaked the examination papers instead of pointing their fingers and blaming the government.

"The way those people leaked the examination papers was not by selling it for money, but by disseminating it openly and for free, like they had a hidden agenda," he said.

The Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) Malaysia chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim also agreed with the ministry's move to suspend the two top heads of the LPM.

"I think this is an appropriate move because they must have accountability in discharging their big responsibilities which involve the future of 472,853 pupils who sat for the UPSR examination this year," she said.

She said this was because the incident had also caused so many problems to the parents.