Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Education (MOE) is arranging immediate assistance to the families of two students from the Perlis campus of the Institute of Teacher Education (IPG), who drowned in a kayaking incident at Pantai Merdeka near Sungai Petani, Kedah, yesterday. The ministry said psychosocial support is also being offered, with particular attention given to the welfare and well-being of those affected.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, MOE expressed its deepest condolences to the families of the two Perlis campus IPG students involved in the incident during an off-campus outdoor education programme on Saturday. The ministry stated its hope that the families are granted strength and resilience in facing this difficult time. It added that the incident is under investigation by the authorities, and the ministry has also launched an internal probe to examine compliance with all relevant standard operating procedures (SOPs).

The ministry emphasized that all educational institutions under MOE are reminded to ensure that all outdoor activities strictly adhere to existing SOPs, with participant safety given the highest priority.

Meanwhile, based on the official Facebook page of the IPG campus, the two students were identified as Christopher Ling Jia Siang, 21, and Joey Ling Lin Siang, 20. Kuala Muda Police chief ACP Hanyan Ramlan reported that the bodies of both victims were found at about 7.30 pm.