MOE Urges Stricter Monitoring Of Food Sales Outside Schools After Choking Incident

GEORGE TOWN, Feb 20 (Bernama) -- The Education Ministry (MoE) has reiterated its directive to all State Education Departments (JPN) to collaborate with local authorities (PBT) in monitoring and regulating food and beverage sales outside school premises.

Education director-general Azman Adnan said the regulations, outlined in the Guidelines on Enforcement of the Ban on Food and Beverage Sales Outside School Gates (Second Edition 2021) must be strictly observed.

MoE, through the Penang JPN, is closely monitoring the situation and prioritising the well-being of the affected student and their family.

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“Although MoE does not have direct jurisdiction over vendors operating outside school premises, incidents like these and their impact on student safety must be taken seriously,” he told Bernama today.

This comes after reports of Mohammad Fahmi Hafiz Mohammad Fakhruddin, a Year Four student, who remains in critical condition in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Penang Hospital after choking on a gummy candy he purchased outside school.

The 10-year-old student from Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Sungai Dua, Butterworth, allegedly bought two pieces of the candy before attending Quran and Fardu Ain (KAFA) classes at 2.30 pm on Tuesday.

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According to his aunt, Siti Farhani Muhammad Fikri, 33, Mohammad Fahmi began choking and struggled to breathe but managed to approach his teacher before collapsing.

Azman said JPNs and schools must report any food sales occurring within a 40-metre radius of school gates to local authorities.

He reaffirmed KPM’s commitment to ensuring the safety, welfare and well-being of students, teachers and school communities.

-- BERNAMA