No cover-ups, justice will be served, Kamalanathan assures family of suicide victim

PETALING JAYA: The Education Ministry today assured the family of the late M. Vasanthapiriya, 14, that justice would be served and there would be no cover-ups with regards the investigations into her death.
Deputy Education Minister I Datuk P.Kamalanathan said the ministry will offer its full cooperation to the police and that investigations were already underway following the incident.
"The tragic loss of life is something that haunts me. For someone so young to take such a dramatic step and end her life is heart breaking. I would like to offer my heartfelt condolence to the family for this unimaginable tragedy," he replied via SMS.
Vasanthapiriya passed away today despite frantic prayers of hope by her family and extended relatives in a sorrowful tale of misguidance, intimidation and miscommunication.
The Form Two student succumbed to her brain injuries after she had attempted to hang herself last Wednesday after she was accused by four teachers of stealing a smartphone from one of them last week in school.
She passed away just a day after the Holy Thaipusam festival here where hours earlier, her family gave prayers and had hoped for the best for the teenager; leaving behind her parents and four other siblings.
The frail girl was placed in the intensive care unit of the Seberang Jaya Hospital for the last eight days after she was found barely alive by her father in her bedroom with a written suicide note which read that: "Teacher, i did not take your phone."
She had also bade her farewell to her parents and grandmother before tying herself to a steel rod in her bedroom.
She had apparently decided to hang herself while her teacher was discussing the alleged theft with her parents at their home.
Many Malaysians were praying for a miracle and they had hoped for her speedy recovery.
But the brain damage was too apparent, and the doctors could not do much to treat her.
While the teacher in question has been transferred to the district education department, Kamalanthan added that the ministry will prioritise the case and wants justice done without fear or favour.
Seberang Prai Municipal Council (MPSP) councillor M. Satees told theSun that the teenager's blood pressure and pulse started to drop on Thursday night.
He, however, said it stabilised but the teenager's father was informed by doctors that they had to turn off the life support as her brain stopped responding at 3am.
She passed away half an hour later.
The incident had drawn the ire of politicians from both sides and also earned the ire of netizens, with many calling for justice, following the circumstances which led to her death.
Many expressed their dissatisfaction after the Education Ministry merely transferred the teacher to the district education department pending investigations.
One Facebook user Sarguna Arumugam said: "Rest in peace sister. The teacher should be punished severely. Not to be hidden in office."
Another Facebook user Nur Syahadah Lan Syahadah called on the authorities to take severe action against the teacher in addition to hoping for the girl's family to remain strong and calm following their loss.
Facebook user Yee Fong said: "Teachers who have committed wrongdoings (are) always transferred to another school only. Why aren't they sacked ?
"Legal action must be taken against this teacher and the school for falsely accusing her, causing her death."