In an emotionally charged press conference, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek fought back tears as she spoke about the latest tragedy to hit a local school - the death of 16-year-old Irene Sofiya Khairool Faisal, who is believed to have been murdered by her schoolmates in Yong Peng, Johor.

Fadhlina emphasised that she was speaking not only as a minister, but also as a mother.

“My children went through the same schooling and education system. They all attended government schools.

“Like other parents, I used to take my children to school and entrust them to the teachers and the school authorities,” the mother of six told reporters in Parliament.