BANGI, Feb 20 — A group of students that were caught on video vandalising school equipment has been called for counselling to understand the motives of their actions, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said today.

The minister also urged the public to stop spreading the video to protect the students’ identities and ensure an effective counselling process.

"We have finished the investigation process which involved their parents and implemented the intervention process.

"We have also arranged counselling for the students and will look at the results and see what has caused them to act in this way,” said Fadhlina in a press conference here.

She was referring to a group of local students who were shown in a viral video vandalising school equipment to celebrate the end of the school term.

"I cannot reveal [their identities] due to integrity, we need to protect the faces of the students and the school to make sure they can receive continuous counselling.

"We are worried that if their faces are revealed, we won’t be able to hold the counselling process effectively,” she said.

The minister also urges the public to not "give up” on this group of students and believes there are issues behind them that need to be addressed.

"I understand that many are enraged by looking at what had happened, but I think they should be given a chance to be educated and take on continuous counselling,” said Fahdlina, adding that parents, counsellors, and the community should work together to prevent similar vandalism case from happening again.

Earlier, a video recording showing a group of high schoolers breaking doors, school chairs, and bending ceiling fans while laughing has gone viral online, drawing criticism from the public.

Yesterday, the involved state education department released a statement saying that the students will be assigned community services.

The department added that community services are part of the character strengths intervention programme and immediate measures will be taken to ensure no repeat of such cases.