Hysteria: Religious ceremonies allowed in school

Superstitious practices however are “not encouraged”, says education ministry.

PETALING JAYA: The education ministry is allowing schools to hold religious ceremonies that are deemed acceptable to local communities to calm the emotions of teachers and students who have been hit by hysteria.

The government, however, does not encourage superstitious practices or those who try to practise khurafat and syirik as the school is supposed to be a sacred place.

Chong Sin Woon, who is deputy education minister, was quoted as saying by the China Press that hysteria attacks had happened before and it was not something new.

It was reported previously that teachers and students from four schools in Kelantan were affected by several hysteria attacks last week. This led to SMK Pengkalan Chepa II in Kota Baru being closed for a day.

“In addition to helping them from a religious point of view, we will also be providing counselling for them,” Chong said.

He explained that the situation at SMK Pengkalan Chepa II was under control and the education ministry would continue to monitor the developments at the school.

“We have asked the education departments to monitor the other schools in the district. No other cases of hysteria in other schools have been reported so far,” he said.