By Atiqah Zulkifli

PASIR PUTIH, MALAYSIA: A student of SMK Tok Janggut here was expelled and four others suspended between one and two weeks for stabbing a pupil in a fight in school on Wednesday.

The decision was taken following an internal investigation conducted by school officials.

The Form Four student who used a kerambit (a small curved knife) to stab Mohd Amirul Hakim Mohd Afendi was expelled from the school and a friend of his who was also involved in the fight was suspended for two weeks.

Three Form Three students, including Amirul, were suspended from school for a week. However, the students can appeal their cases.

The students and their parents met at the school yesterday in an emotional scene which was a repeat of similar meetings following similar cases in Sarawak and Pahang.

The students were asked to apologise and forgive each other and several cried and hugged each other.

The meeting was witnessed by Education Department director-general Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom, state director Mohd Ghazali Abdul Rahman and teachers.

Alimuddin said the department took the matter seriously as a sharp weapon was used in the incident and this could have caused death.

He said teachers should be more aware of the problems affecting students and take quick action if some of them were acting suspiciously. --NST