The police of Perak are probing into a claim circulating online recently which detailed the deaths of two students from a school here in Ipoh.
According to state police chief Datuk Mior Faridalathrash Wahid, the claim alleged that both of them died as a side effect of COVID-19 vaccination, which is erroneous.
“The first student passed away on August 18 earlier this year after two critical months of fighting for her life at Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun (HRPB) due to complications caused by COVID-19 infection.
“She also had a number of comorbidities, which included diabetes and chronic high blood pressure.
“The second student passed away on September 17 earlier this month due to a heart attack.
“As such, their deaths are not linked to COVID-19 inoculation in any way, because the vaccination programme for teenagers in Perak only commenced on September 20.
“The claim is thus very misleading and considered invalid,” he explained via WhatsApp when contacted by the media today (September 29).
In a related statement by the Deputy Minister of Health I Dato’ Dr. Noor Azmi Ghazali, he clarified that the first student had suffered from Type I diabetes and depended on constant insulin treatment.
“She was infected with COVID-19 and passed away on August 18 earlier this year before the vaccination programme for teenagers had even begun.
“The second student, on the other hand, suffered from sepsis with underlying congenital heart disease, whereby he was brought to the emergency unit of HRPB due to serious bacterial infection.
“Respiratory assistance and resuscitation was attempted on him but to no avail. He passed away on September 17, in which he also had not received the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Both of them were 17,” Noor Azmi explained.
Mior added that investigations are ongoing based on reports received, under Section 504 of the Penal Code for intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace and Section 505(b) of the same Code for causing fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public.
Both Mior and Noor Azmi urged members of the public to not easily believe any statements issued without consulting parties responsible for validity of information.
Chris Teh
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