Probe into boy's 'suicide' due to bullying

KUALA LUMPUR - The Education Ministry started investigations into the case of a 13-year-old who allegedly committed suicide because he could no longer stand being bullied by his schoolmates.

Education Ministry deputy director-general (operations) Datuk Sufaat Tumin said the probe was being conducted by the Selangor Education Department through its Hulu Langat office.

"The state Education Department is conducting a thorough investigation to find out what happened.

"A team of officers from the district education office is carrying out the probe, and it will go to the school tomorrow (today) to interview the victim's friends and teachers.

"We will find out what had transpired and to get witness accounts," he said.

In the 9pm incident on Friday, the boy, who studied in a school in Rinching, Semenyih, is believed to have drank a bottle of weedkiller at his family's house in Bandar Rinching.

His mother claimed her son's death was related to bullying he suffered at school.

The mother of four said her son, who scored 4As in his Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah, had told her that he was always being called stupid and picked on by bullies at school.