Sabah Islamic authorities probe private madrasah after teacher accused of assaulting students

THE Sabah State Islamic Religious Affairs Department, JHEAINS, will take appropriate action against a private madrasah following allegations that a teacher assaulted several students at the institution.

Its director, Datuk Jumain Abdul Ghani, said any action would depend on the outcome of an investigation conducted by a JHEAINS probe team, which visited the madrasah yesterday after the case went viral on social media.

“Our investigation team went to the premises to obtain a full report. After that, I will receive their findings and we will take whatever action is appropriate,” he said when met at the Sabah State Legislative Assembly building yesterday.

He was responding to questions about an incident involving a group of students at a madrasah in the state who were allegedly assaulted by a teacher or instructor, including having their heads struck with a helmet.

The incident, believed to have occurred late last week, spread widely on social media, prompting anger and condemnation from netizens towards the teacher involved, before he was arrested by police to assist with further investigations.

Jumain said the madrasah, which has 90 students and five teachers, is among the tahfiz institutions registered under JHEAINS.

He explained that JHEAINS’ role is limited to supervising religious education institutions and providing the syllabus, while the day-to-day management remains under the administration of the madrasah itself.

He also revealed that prior to the incident, several students from the madrasah were said to have left the premises late at night and walked to a cybercafé located about one kilometre away.

Out of concern for the students’ safety, the teacher involved had allegedly followed them, after which the act of violence occurred. The incident was captured on closed-circuit television and later circulated online.

Meanwhile, Kota Kinabalu district police chief Assistant Commissioner Kasim Muda said the case is being investigated under Section 324 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt using a weapon, and Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001.

Earlier, a one-minute-and-30-second video clip went viral on social media showing a man assaulting several teenagers at a premises, including striking them with a helmet. - December 17, 2025