Cheras school bookshop supervisor murder case opens 'a can of worms'

 

A security guard has been revealed as the main suspect in the murder case of a 25-year-old woman whose body was found charred in a school in Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, according to a Free Malaysia Today report.

Education activist Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim was quoted as saying that the discovery of the suspect’s prior criminal convictions for outraging modesty and snatch theft has opened “a can of worms”.

She queried as to how the security guard was given the job despite his record.

“As parents, we would trust that thorough background checks are conducted on security companies and their personnel.

“This incident opens a can of worms about ancillary support staff in schools and the education ministry’s verification checks,” said the Parent Action Group for Education chairperson.

On March 12, the charred body of a woman, who worked as a bookshop supervisor at the school, was discovered following a fire at the school’s living skills workshop at 6.18pm.

Both the suspect and the victim worked at the same secondary school - with the security guard having worked there for two years while the woman had just started her job last month.

Bernama reported on March 14 that the 30-year-old security guard was remanded for seven days to facilitate the investigation.

The case is currently being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

Association looking into the matter

In response to the case, Malaysian Security Industry Association president Ramli Yusuff said the association is looking into the matter.

While it was the Education Ministry that awards contracts to security firms, he said security firms are still responsible for the vetting of guards they employ.

Ramli, who was a former director of the police commercial crime investigation, said security contracts typically run for three years.

He added that security firms and their guards cannot operate without approval from the Home Ministry.

Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education (Magpie) chairperson Mak Chee Kin urged for action to be taken against security firms whose employees possess a criminal record, which could include the termination of their contracts.

Mak warned those firms desperate for manpower from employing “any Tom, Dick or Harry” without thorough background checks and called for a more rigorous employment process.

“From my experience, some of these guards are not properly trained and are just rude.

“Some even sleep on their job and don’t enforce Covid-19 standard operating procedures when visitors come over. All this is sometimes due to the lackadaisical attitude of the school management.

“(Having said that), I have also encountered responsible guards. It’s all about the strictness of the (school’s) management,” said Mak. - Mkini