UPSR leaks: Several culprits identified, exam syndicate director suspended

PUTRAJAYA: Four hot spots and several individuals have been identified over the leaked Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) 2014 Science and English Language subject papers.
Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh (pix) said this discovery was based on the initial investigations carried out by the police, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the Education Ministry.
"We hope the culprits involved will be brought to justice soonest possible and given the sternest punishment," he said at a press conference on the leaked examination papers.
However, Idris declined to comment on or imply the involvement of inside people in the case as he wants the police and MCMC to conduct a thorough investigation first.
The UPSR English Language papers 014/1 and 014/2, already sat by the candidates, were cancelled while the sitting for the Science 018, 028 and 038 papers were postponed to Sept 30 together with the English subject papers after these exam papers were found to have been leaked.
Idris said at the moment, the ministry had not received any new report on leaked UPSR papers for other subjects.
"Parents who are still confused over the matter are advised to visit the Examination Board's website at www.moe.gov.my/lp to obtain the latest official information on the UPSR," he said.
At the news conference, Idris also showed to the media part of the standard operating procedure (SOP) in conducting and managing public examinations and the 800-page SOP book.
He said the SOP was always being improved and the last time that was done was last year, adding that it would be further tightened to provide no room for irresponsible parties to leak examination papers.
Idris also said that an independent committee would be set up to review the SOP and it would include experts in certain fields like information technology, security and logistics.
He said a meeting would be held with Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and the list of members of the independent committee would be announced soon.
Idris explained that the work process in preparing public examination papers would begin with drawing up of the questions, followed by getting ready the paper, then printing, packaging, distribution, opening of the boxes of question papers and then delivery of the question papers accompanied by police.
"The questions are placed in two security envelopes which are difficult to open and kept in the strongroom," he said.
Examinations Syndicate director suspended
Malaysian Examinations Syndicate director Dr Na'imah Ishak has been suspended with immediate effect over the leaks in this year's Primary School Achievement Test (UPSR) examination papers, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced here today.
He also announced that the syndicate's deputy director of operations Dr Wan Ilias Wan Salleh had also been similarly suspended.
Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said Education deputy director-general (Teaching Professionalism Development Sector) Datuk Misrah Ibrahim would take over the duties and responsibilities of the director during the period of suspension.
"The Education Ministry must take urgent and firm action because incidents like this will raise questions about the integrity of the examination syndicate and the overall public examinations system in the country," he told a press conference after attending the 8th Asean Education Ministers Meeting here Friday.
He said the decision to suspend the duo was taken because they had to take responsibility for the fiasco which resulted in the cancellation of the English 014/1 and 014/2 and Science 018, 028 and 038 papers.
The papers had been leaked on social media before UPSR students were to sit for them and the Education Ministry has since announced that the students will have to resit the papers on Sept 30. – Bernama