The Ministry of Education (MOE) has ordered all Institute of Teacher Education (IPG) campuses nationwide to temporarily suspend all high-risk activities, including water-based exercises, following the drowning of two trainee teachers during a kayaking session in Kedah.
Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh said the directive was issued by Education Director-General Datuk Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad during a visit to the families of the victims at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Setar.
He said the immediate suspension was implemented to ensure the safety of students while also allowing families of those affected to remain calm during the aftermath of the incident.
Wong added that all IPG campuses have been instructed to halt such activities until further notice from the ministry, as investigations into the tragedy continue.
He also confirmed that both police investigations and internal probes by the MOE and IPG are underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The ministry is also assisting with arrangements to repatriate the remains of the two students to Sarawak, while counselling support is being provided to fellow trainees affected by the tragedy.
Earlier reports stated that the two victims, Christopher Ling Jia Siang, 21, and Joey Ling Lin Siang, 20, from IPG Perlis, drowned after their kayak reportedly overturned due to strong currents during a kayaking activity at Pantai Merdeka on Saturday.
Authorities also revealed that no prior notification was received regarding the organisation of the activity, with further investigations ongoing.
