By Heidi Foo

SEREMBAN, MALAYSIA: Fifty-two pupils of a school near here were rushed to the Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital after they developed symptoms of food poisoning yesterday.

The pupils of Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil Ladang, in Senawang, were rushed to the emergency ward after they suffered diarrhoea and bouts of vomiting.

The incident occurred after the Year One to Six pupils were believed to have eaten mee hoon and nasi lemak at the school canteen about 10.45am.

State Plantation Affairs, Human Resources, Environment and Public Complaints Committee chairman V.S. Mogan said the pupils were reported to be in stable condition after receiving treatment.

"They were allowed to go home after doctors gave them a clean bill of health. This is a serious matter and follow-up measures will be taken to avoid a repeat of the incident."

A parent, S. Vallaran, who is also a Parent-Teacher Association committee member, said he was informed of the incident by the principal.

"This is the first food poisoning incident in the school. Parents and teachers helped to send the children to the hospital."

State Education Department director Datuk Abdullah Mohamad said initial investigations revealed that the nasi lemak and mee hoon eaten by the pupils might have been the cause of the food poisoning.

"However, we found out that the food was bought from outside and not prepared by the canteen operator.

"We have also taken food samples and will conduct tests soon."

He said the department had sent a team of officers to check on the level of cleanliness in the school's canteen and whether it had adhered to hygiene standards.

--New Straits Times