JEMPOL: A total of 165 students residing in the dormitory of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Batu Kikir (Special Model) here were given five days off starting today following a mass hysteria incident that occurred since last Saturday (April 20).
Jempol Member of Parliament, Datuk Shamshulkahar Mohd Deli said 50 students (19 males and 31 females aged between 13 and 17) experienced hysteria out of the total 165 students residing in the dormitory.
"The students are allowed to return home and are given leave until further," he said when contacted today (April 22).
He said the dormitory needed to be vacated for 'recovery treatment'. According to him, a similar hysteria incident had occurred in 2019.
Voice recordings on the incident involving dormitory students have gone viral on social media late last night.
Meanwhile, a mother who wished to be known only as Zai said she was informed by the warden to pick up her child following the mass hysteria.
After Maghrib yesterday, I went to the school before finding my 14-year-old daughter in a state of anxiety because she was suffering from hysteria while her 12-year-old sister did not experience it," she said.
According to her, it was the first time her children experienced such incidents after staying in the dormitory for two and four years respectively.
She said her two children were currently in good condition and resting at home.
"When picking up our child, the screams of not only female students but also male students could be clearly heard. The hysteria incident is believed to have occurred since last night," she said.
Earlier, a video of students suffering from hysteria went viral on social media since midnight.
Zai said the dormitory authorities also requested parents to pick up their respective children to be taken home last night, and those who lived far away could pick them up today (April 22).
This prompted parents who lived nearby to rush to pick up their respective children including her last night.
Meanwhile, Negri Sembilan Education Department director Datuk Dr Roslan Hussin confirmed that a total of 165 dormitory students from he school were allowed to return home after the incident began last Saturday.
However, he said a total of 20 Form Six students were still in the school dormitory as they had examinations.
"The school is not closed, and learning continues as usual, only our dormitory students are allowed by parents and guardians to take their children home temporarily until the situation returns to normal.
"Based on current information, a total of 50 students experienced hysteria and we are still monitoring this matter. The current situation is stable and recovery efforts are underway," he said.