The queen said she had asked Universiti Teknologi Malaysia to conduct the study, adding that she would assist in the matter.

“Schools must keep up with current developments and the use of internet and social media at home and in schools, and reevaluate their methods,” she said, according to a post on Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim’s Facebook page.

Raja Zarith Sofiah also granted an audience to education minister Fadhlina Sidek at Istana Negara today, during which she expressed her views on discipline, the role of parent-teacher associations and the effects of social media on students.

The queen pointed to the TinDak campaign launched by the Johor Women’s League in 2017, saying the education ministry could look at the effectiveness of the campaign’s modules designed to protect children from sexual harm.

On Oct 11, four Form 5 students in Alor Gajah, Melaka, were arrested over the gang rape of a Form 3 girl in a classroom at their school.

Melaka police chief Dzulkhairi Mukhtar said the four suspects have been remanded until Oct 16 to assist in the investigation.

The investigation is being held under Section 375B of the Penal Code for gang rape, punishable by 10 to 30 years in prison upon conviction.

The suspects reportedly committed the offence on the 15-year-old victim at about 2.50pm on Oct 2, while she was headed to her classroom to collect something she had left behind.