THE Penang Education Department today visited the home and school of the late M. Vasanthapiriya, as her grieving family conducted funeral rites for the 13-year-old.

A department spokesman confirmed that deputy director Mohd Jamil Mohamed and several officers had visited the Form Two student’s family at their home in Kg Tonghai, as well as SMK Methodist Nibong Tebal.

“The department’s visit to the school was to get the latest updates on the incident. Our report has already been sent to the Education Ministry.

“The meeting was to tie loose ends and to make sure our report is accurate,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Vasanthapiriya died yesterday morning at Seberang Jaya Hospital after being in a coma for a week, following her attempted suicide by hanging on January 24.

She had been accused of stealing her teacher’s iPhone 6 at school earlier in the day – a claim that she had denied.

She was allegedly reprimanded by the accusing teacher in front of her schoolmates, and locked in a room in the teacher’s office. The teacher and her husband later drove the teen home to confront her parents.

Vasanthapiriya tried to kill herself in her room while her parents were discussing the alleged theft with the teacher. The teen’s sister found her alive, but unconscious.

The department spokesman said the teacher in question was still stationed at the southern Seberang Prai district education office, where she has been posted since last week, pending the department’s investigation.

“There is no decision or judgment on the case yet. Until then, there is nothing we can reveal.

“We also cannot be biased towards any party.”

Asked if he knew how the teacher was doing, given that she has been subjected to a public lynching, especially on social media, the spokesman said the teacher had not said anything to the department.

“If she feels threatened, she has to go to police. We have no power to give her protection. We cannot comment on her safety.”

Social media comments on the teacher – whose identity has been revealed by some Facebook users – have been nothing short of vicious. A photograph from her Facebook page is also making the rounds.

The teacher has since deactivated her account on the social networking site.

SMK Methodist Nibong Tebal, too, has not been spared the wrath of social media users.

One of the school’s Facebook pages, run by former students, carried a message of condolence to Vasanthapiriya’s family, and asked users to “like” and share the post if they felt that the case must be investigated and resolved quickly.

However, some users left comments condemning the teacher, calling for her to be fired.

There was also anger at Vasanthapiriya’s funeral this afternoon.

SMK Methodist Nibong Tebal parent-teacher association (PTA) chairman Teoh Seang Hooi said a woman had furiously called for the Education Ministry to sack the accusing teacher.

“Police was present at the funeral to make sure it proceeded smoothly. The PTA would like to thank police for maintaining peace and order.”

He said the association would convene a special meeting on the incident next Friday, and would keep the public informed of the latest developments. – February 2, 2018.