Kota iskandar: Johor State Assembly Speaker Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi proposed that state Education and Information Committee chairman Aznan Tamin carry out unannounced visits to schools in the state. The Rengit state assemblyman emphasized the importance of these inspections to observe the actual conditions in schools and ensure their safety at all times.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohd Puad suggested that these visits should be conducted without prior notification to the relevant agencies, including the Johor Education Department (JPNJ) or the Ministry of Education (MOE). He shared his experiences of visiting schools, noting that entry protocols varied significantly, which highlighted differences in school safety practices.

During the State Legislative Assembly sitting in Kota Iskandar, he recounted how he was able to enter a school in Kuala Lumpur without hindrance, whereas in a rural school in Terengganu, he was required to sign a logbook before entry. This, he noted, was a positive example of maintaining school safety.

Mohd Puad raised concerns about student safety, pointing out that crimes involving school students, once thought to be issues occurring abroad, are now happening in the country. He believes that surprise visits could help authorities identify unreported weaknesses and reinforce safety measures to prevent unwanted incidents.

Earlier, in response to an oral question on the Johor Student Character Programme (KRMJ) and the Anti-Bullying Campaign, Aznan mentioned the establishment of a special ‘Johor Safe Zone’ Committee. This committee, which includes several state executive councillors, is focused on ensuring the safety of schools in Johor.

Aznan detailed the Johor government’s ongoing collaboration with all stakeholders through the JPNJ and district education offices (PPDs), emphasizing continuous guidance, training sessions, and regular monitoring. He highlighted strategic partnerships with the state police, including the appointment of school liaison officers (PPS) under the Jom Ke Sekolah and Sekolah Rakan Cop Johor (SRJ) programmes. He also mentioned the recent implementation of QR code scanning for police patrol inspections at schools and dormitories across Johor.