KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry is in its final stages of setting up a new committee to look into the controversial "period spot checks" allegation on female students during the month of Ramadan at schools.
Senior Education Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Radzi Jidin said aside from the contentious period spot checks incident, the committee will also look into other similar issues that may crop up in the future.
"We are studying this matter and the ministry is in its final process of establishing a new committee.
"There will be a more comprehensive process in this context, to ensure when such issues arise in the future, we will be able to tackle it in a more structured and orderly manner," he told a press conference aired live via Facebook today.
In April, some students took to Twitter to reveal the practice of "period spot checks" on female students during the month of Ramadan at schools.
They claimed that they were also asked to take off their underwears to prove that they were menstruating so that they could be excused from fasting and praying.
According to a report by Malaysiakini, former and current students revealed that they were told to show their blood-soaked sanitary pads, swab their vaginas with either cotton buds, tissues or their fingers, or have a teacher, warden or school prefect pat them down at the groin area to feel if they were wearing sanitary pads.
When asked if there was any progress in the ministry's investigation on the case, Radzi replied in the negative.
"No (new updates yet) as this matter is still being investigated by the ministry at the moment," he said.
Following the period spot checks controversy, individuals, non-governmental organisations and civil society groups have condemned the act, describing it as a violation of a child's rights and against the law as they carry elements of sexual harassment or abuse.
According to Article 28 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which was ratified by Malaysia in 1995, a state party was obliged to ensure that schools implement discipline in accordance with the rights and dignity of children.