IPOH (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Malaysian police say they have identified all those involved in the incident at a boot camp where schoolgirls were asked to cross a muddy pit with snakes, triggering an uproar.

Acting Perak police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Hasnan Hassan said those involved, including the person who had uploaded the video clip of the incident, would have their statements taken soon.

The matter would be investigated under Section 352 of the Penal Code, Section 31 (1)(a) of the Child Act and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act, he said in a statement on Friday (Oct 21).

DCP Hasnan said a special task force was set up the next day following the incident on Oct 16, comprising police officers from the Perak police contingent and Kuala Kangsar district police.

He added that the results of the investigations would be submitted to the deputy public prosecutor's office for the next course of action.

During the bootcamp held at the Perak Civil Defence Force headquarters in Kuala Kangsar last weekend, the primary schoolgirls from SK Beluru were asked to wade through a muddy pit with snakes in it.

The event was jointly organised by the force and the school.

An uproar ensued following the spread of a clip of the incident involving the terrified schoolgirls.

Several trainers were suspended while the authorities ordered a review of motivational training programmes for schoolchildren.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar was reported to have said that there were elements of abuse in the training programme.

Several parents interviewed by The Star later said their children were emotionally affected by the incident and given counselling.