KUALA LUMPUR: The Alliance for a Safe Community has praised Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) chairman Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki for conducting unannounced visits to Mara Junior Science Colleges (MRSM) across the country.
Its chairman, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, said that these surprise inspections revealed various issues within Mara's educational institutions, validating public concerns about MRSM's management under Asyraf's oversight.
"All of this came to light due to the impromptu visit. If the Mara chairman had adhered to protocol and scheduled an official appointment, notifying the authorities beforehand, any deficiencies would have been concealed, and no flaws in MRSM's management would have been exposed.
"These visits have underscored the reality that the country's facilities still suffer from inadequate maintenance," he said in a statement today.
Lee said that MRSM, as an institution tasked with providing a conducive learning environment, must ensure its facilities are in satisfactory condition to support students effectively.
He also warned of the serious risks posed by health issues, such as food poisoning and substandard food quality, which endanger students' well-being.
"Therefore, such surprise inspections should be conducted across all MRSM campuses," he added.
Lee expressed full support for the #TerjahMRSM initiative, calling it a crucial measure to ensure that institutions responsible for student welfare operate at their best capacity.
"As chairman of the Alliance for a Safe Community, where safety and health are our core objectives, it is distressing to see students living in poorly maintained facilities, such as toilets with broken doors.
"It is equally concerning to hear reports of students being at risk of food poisoning due to the low quality of meals served by hostel canteens," he said.
Lee said that these issues are not confined to MRSM Langkawi, as highlighted recently, but are widespread in other locations as well.
He was responding to a viral video showing Asyraf conducting a surprise inspection at MRSM Langkawi without prior notice to school authorities.
During the inspection, Asyraf was taken aback by the condition of the facilities, discovering a toilet door that collapsed with just a light touch.
Several other toilets were found with missing doors, broken lights, and malfunctioning sinks.
Asyraf shared his findings on Facebook and TikTok, explaining that the inspection was carried out without prior notice to the institution's management, following numerous complaints from parents.