MIRI: In a move to beef up security, two secondary schools in Miri, SM Riam and SMK Merbau start scanning students with metal detectors.

SMK Merbau shared on its Facebook page that the school had started using metal detector at the school entrance and conducted impromptu checks in classrooms since last year to prevent students from bringing prohibited or dangerous items to school.

It said the measure is to educate students about the importance of obeying rules and keeping everyone safe in school.

“May this create a safer, harmonious and disciplined school environment,’’ it said.

SMK Merbau has a total of 3,210 students.

SM Riam, which has 1,159 students as of April last year, tightened safety measures by converting unscheduled checks to daily screening.

All students are screened once they arrive at the entrance to ensure that no one brings prohibited items to school.

Teachers and the prefects are stationed at the entrances of the school where they would scan students’ bags with metal detectors.

The security checks are imposed after a 16-year-old student Yap Xing Shuen was stabbed to death by a 14-year-old student in SMK Bandar Utama Damansara (4) on Oct 14.

The attack, which occurred in school,  caught nationwide attention as parents are worried about the safety of their children. 

SMK Bandar Utama Damansara (4) is now using a metal detector to scan students before they enter the school.