Larkin aquatic centre may shut temporarily after 19 students hospitalised following swim meet

JOHOR BARU: The Arena Larkin Aquatic Centre in Larkin is expected to be temporarily closed after 19 secondary school students were admitted to hospital following a swim in the pool.

Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the students were participating in a swimming competition organised by the Johor Schools Sports Council (MSSJ) from July 23 to 25.

“As of Sunday (July 28), only one of the 19 students is still being treated at Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA).

“There were 900 participants in the competition, and 19 of them were admitted to hospital,” he said during a visit to the Arena Larkin Aquatic Centre.

He added that the students started vomiting on July 25 before being admitted to hospital.

“From my visit, it’s clear that some of the facilities at the centre need repairs, with some amenities having become rusty from not being used during the pandemic.

“The Chemistry Department has taken water samples from the diving and swimming pools, and we are trying to determine the cause of this incident.

“Depending on the report, we might have to temporarily close this centre. The building owner has been informed to conduct immediate maintenance,” he said.

When asked about the pilot school project expected to launch next year, Onn Hafiz said the teachers involved are currently undergoing training.

“The pilot school project is expected to roll out in February next year. Starting this month, all the teachers involved have been selected to undergo training.

“We want the teachers to learn the curriculum and the necessary knowledge to teach the children once the pilot project starts.

“The results won’t be immediate; it might take one to two years to see if the programme is successful. However, we are confident that this initiative will produce positive results,” he said.

He added that the programme has received approval from the Education Ministry, and the details are currently being finalised by the state and federal government, including the private sector.

“Discussions are also ongoing to select which schools will participate. The main idea is to ensure continuity between primary and secondary schools,” he added.

Earlier, Onn Hafiz mentioned that Johor is set to launch pilot schools next year to improve the state’s education system.

“This aligns with the directive of the Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, who emphasised the importance of high-quality education.

“Special attention will be given to mastering Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), as well as the English language,” he said, adding that the pilot project will initially include two primary schools and two secondary schools, selected by the state education department.