School lodges police report

PETALING JAYA: SMJK Katholik here has lodged a police report over Monday's tragic accident in which a bus chartered for a school trip overturned near Hulu Langat, Selangor, killing a student and seriously injuring three others and a teacher.
"It was a very unfortunate incident. As far as the school and the education ministry is concerned, the procedures for the co-curriculum activity was adhered to," a ministry spokesman said today.
He also said that the parents of Chin Yeong Peng, 17, who died, gave their permission for him to go on the trip and the bus was licensed by the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD).
He added that there would be counselling sessions for students, who went on the trip, if they required such assistance.
"It was a traumatic incident and the counsellors in the school will work with the students based on their needs and emotions," he said.
The accident occurred on the way back from a two-day camping trip at a resort in Hulu Langat in which 157 students and four teachers had taken part.
The spokesman said that Yeong Peng's father would claim his body at the Serdang Hospital mortuary tomorrow.
The boy's mother is now on her way back home from Australia.
He also said the father has declined any financial help from the school's Parent-Teacher Association, however the school would be taking up a collection to be given to the family.
Deputy Education Minister I, Datuk Mary Yap, has expressed her sympathy and condolences over the incident.
Meanwhile, Kajang OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Rashid Abdul Wahab said the case was being investigated under the Road Transport Act for reckless driving.
"The bus driver tried to steer the bus away from falling into a ravine while coming down a steep slope when it overturned," he said.
The brake of the bus was said to have malfunctioned.