Murdered Yong Peng student dreamed of becoming doctor like late mother

BATU PAHAT: The Form Four student who was killed at a secondary school in Yong Peng had aspired to follow in her late mother's footsteps and become a doctor.

Her aunt, Siti Nur Faeza Khyar, 45, said 16-year-old Irene Sofiya Mohd Khairool Faisal had shared her ambition

with her.

"She said she wanted to become a doctor like her mother," she said when met at the girl's home in Kampung Parit Selamat.

"Fiya (Irene) asked me what type of doctor she should be. I suggested becoming an obstetrics and gynaecology specialist."

Irene Sofiya's mother served as a public health specialist at Serdang Hospital until her death from liver cancer when the girl, an only child, was nine.

Her father works as an engineer in Bangi.

Siti Nur Faeza, a teacher, described her niece as a hardworking, quiet and kind student who consistently excelled academically.

"Whenever there were examinations, Fiya would rank first or second in her form.

"She had the potential to achieve nine As in next year's Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination," she said.

"She was someone the family and school had high hopes for. She really enjoyed studying and was highly focused on her education."

Siti Nur Faeza said she and her mother, Jameyah Rabani, 65, searched for Irene Sofiya after she failed to return home when her extra class ended at 5pm.

"I cannot imagine the pain and suffering she endured before we found her. Imagine her in pain and covered in blood inside the dark school hall, with no one knowing what she was going through," she said.

"It was extremely cruel of the perpetrator. We hope the person responsible is punished."

Three male students, all aged 16, have been arrested over the incident. It is understood that one of them will be remanded.