Students to protest tomorrow demanding Fadhlina's resignation

Students to protest tomorrow demanding Fadhlina's resignation


Published: Aug 20, 2025 4:12 PM
Updated: 6:20 PM


Two student groups have announced a protest against Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek outside the ministry’s headquarters in Putrajaya tomorrow at 10.30am.

They are demanding her resignation over the alleged poor handling of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir’s death case and what they consider misplaced priorities in education budget spending.

In a joint statement, Gabungan Mahasiswa Islam Se-Malaysia (Gamis) and Himpunan Advokasi Rakyat Malaysia (Haram) said the tragic death of young Zara has exposed the existence of bullying, neglect, and sexual harassment in schools.

“However, to date, the Education Ministry has still failed to provide a comprehensive solution. Instead, millions of ringgit have been squandered on pointless projects such as Jalur Gemilang pins worth RM8.4 million, whilst school security remains lax, teachers and wardens lack proper crisis management training, and pupils continue to fall victim.

“What has been offered are merely empty anti-bullying slogans, zero bullying incentives, and even rhetorical events like ‘We love you PMX, happy birthday’ - none of which save our children’s lives.

“Therefore, Gamis and Haram call upon the Malaysian people to join us in the #ResignFadhlina protest to demand the education minister’s resignation over her failure to lead the nation’s educational reform,” the groups said.

Birthday wishes

Fadhlina has been under fire recently over the handling of Zara’s death case involving the deceased’s school personnel, and the recent revelation in Parliament that the ministry’s Jalur Gemilang badge programme for school uniforms had cost RM8.4 million.

She was also criticised after a video emerged on social media, showing her encouraging students to say “Happy Birthday PMX, We Love You” for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who turned 78 on Aug 10.

Former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli also weighed in and criticised Fadhlina for leading schoolchildren to chant birthday wishes.

Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli

The Pandan MP stressed that schools should be treated as neutral spaces dedicated to imparting knowledge, nurturing values, and building good character, rather than platforms for political expression.

Mas Gading MP Mordi Bimol yesterday urged the government to re-evaluate its spending on the flag badges.

In a statement, he said students should not become victims of the government’s misaligned priorities.

He expressed concerns over the Education Ministry spending RM8.4 million on flag badges, in contrast to a mere RM3 million for the installation of CCTVs at selected boarding school campuses.