Teacher's death in Subang Jaya sparks flu panic

Parents of a prominent Subang Jaya secondary school are fearful for their children's lives after hearing that a mathematics teacher died this morning after succumbing to the deadly A(H1N1) flu.

A parent, who requested anonymity, said he was informed by a bus driver that the school remains open despite the fatality.

He said all the parents have taken their children home as a precautionary measure and have demanded that the school be closed.

He further claimed that four other teachers are infected, but that three have since recovered. One is still in quarantine.

Meanwhile, a Subang Jaya councillor - who also has a child enrolled in the school - said he is disappointed with the principal for not closing the school before the matter became serious.

"I was told by my son that one teacher had died of A(H1N1)...and I am very sad because they (school administration) do not have the initiative to close down the school," said Ismail Kamal Abdul Rahman when contacted.

He further alleged that the teacher had been sick, "but was allowed back to the classroom to teach after she recovered".

"But this issue is getting serious now that the teacher has died," he said.

School denies flu-related death

Ismail Kamal said he had questioned the principal as to why the school had been kept open.

"All he could say was that he hadn't received instructions from the Health Ministry to suspend classes," he said.

He however argued that Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has stated that all schools have the prerogative to shut down if there is a suspected case of A(H1N1).

"There is obviously something wrong with this school. It is as if they are not brave enough to come forward and explain," he added.

Malaysiakini contacted the school today but a female staff member, who spoke on condition of anonymity denied that there has been any fatality due to the flu.

The staff member confirmed that a teacher had died this morning, "but of something else".

No further information could be obtained from the staff member.

Efforts to contact the principal drew a blank as he was unavailable for comment.

Health Ministry director-general Dr Ismail Merican and Subang Jaya assemblyperson Hannah Yeoh could not be contacted for confirmation.

However, a check of the Health Ministry website stated that no new A(H1N1)-related deaths had been recorded as at 9am today.

In a statement, the director-general said 257 cases had been confirmed positive for A(H1N1), while 134 patients had been discharged from hospitals.

Malaysia had recorded 67 A(H1N1) related deaths up to yesterday.