A student of a religious school died while sitting for the Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) examination, Monday morning.

Director of the Pahang Islamic Affairs Department Datuk Mohamad Noor Abdul Rani said the student, Tengku Nur Najihah Tengku Marzuki, 18, from the Kulliah Al Lughah Waddin As Sultan Abu Bakar school in Pekan, collapsed and died suddenly at about 10.30 am while waiting to sit for her Arudh paper.

"At that time, she was reported to be studying in the school prayer room while waiting to sit for the paper on the last day of the STAM examination, Monday.

"However, she was reported to have suddenly collapsed, causing her friends to inform the school before an ambulance was called," he said when contacted.

He said Tengku Nur Najihah was however confirmed dead and her body was taken to the Pekan District Hospital for a post-mortem.

The STAM began on Oct 19 until Monday.

He said her body was claimed by her family at about 3 pm for burial in Kampung Balok here.

Meanwhile, Mohamad Noor said, JAIP had four religious schools under its supervision, with more than 800 students sitting for the STAM.

He said of the four schools, Kulliah Al Lughah Waddin As Sultan Abu Bakar, Pekan, had the highest number of students sitting for STAM this year, with a total of 6643 in four exam centres.