KUALA LUMPUR – The SMK Puncak Alam teacher who allegedly made a rape joke in class has been placed at the Selangor Education Department, pending the outcome of police’s investigation, said the Education Ministry.
In a statement today, the ministry confirmed that a student lodged a police report over the matter on April 24, and said action will be decided once the probe is completed.
On Facebook comments allegedly made by the school principal against the student, the ministry said a report was lodged by the former at the Kuala Selangor police station, in which she denies having uploaded the remarks and said she suspects her account had been hacked.
The ministry added that warning letters on attendance are issued to students who do not show up for class for three straight days or 10 non-consecutive days without reason provided in writing to their schools and teachers, and are recorded in the Sistem Sahsiah Diri Murid (Student Discipline System).
“The system generates a warning letter on the matter, and it is sent by post to the student’s parents or guardians.
“In general, the warning letter serves to inform parents or guardians and the school about the student’s attendance. It also allows the ministry to monitor possible dropouts and take the necessary intervention measures.
“Between April 16 and 30, the school (SMK Puncak Alam) issued six warning letters to parents or guardians on attendance matters.
“The ministry would like to emphasise that it prioritises the safety and welfare of students and the school community.”
The Vibes on Sunday reported that Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam, 17, was warned by her school that she faces expulsion if she continues to skip class.
She has been absent since making public her teacher’s alleged trivialisation of rape weeks ago for fear of her own safety, after she received a rape threat from a schoolmate.
Her father, Saiful Nizam Abdul Wahab, said Ain Husniza was given a warning letter for not attending school for three days, from April 26 to 28.
“The letter was received on May 4,” he said.
Ain Husniza said just before the letter was issued, her father had met the principal on the same day and was assured that the school would have her back.
“However, they went ahead and did this (warning) the same day,” she tweeted on Sunday.
The teenager said she is beyond heartbroken by the school’s decision when she was just trying to do the right thing.
“Teachers, didn’t you yourself teach us higher-order thinking skills, to have our opinions and thoughts? I was just doing what you taught me. Why am I being punished for it?
“The teacher (who allegedly made the rape joke) and the boy who made the rape threat didn’t even (face) any action, but I’m getting expelled. This would ruin my life.”
She said she has received many messages from other students who faced expulsion after calling out teachers for sexual harassment or making lewd jokes, while the perpetrators got off scot-free.
Ain Husniza’s claim came just hours after she received repulsive comments on Facebook purportedly by her own principal, Sarimah Mohammed Nor, through the account Aimanaizad Sarimahmohammednor.
However, some individuals have said the remarks were posted by Sarimah’s autistic son.
The distasteful comments aimed at Ain Husniza and her parents are contained in a post published by Saiful Nizam.
“What a hypocrite. ‘Anak setan’ (Satan’s child) is wearing a headscarf,” read one of the remarks purportedly posted by Sarimah.
It was in reference to a poster uploaded by Saiful Nizam promoting a Facebook Live programme titled “Speak Up!” and organised by the Khadijah Learning Centre, featuring Ain Husniza, who is wearing a headscarf in the promotional material, and her mother, Niza Sharifudin.
A separate comment by Sarimah’s account said: “Ajarlah anak kurang ajar (Please teach your insolent daughter).”
Both comments were deleted not long afterwards. Sarimah also deactivated her account following public outrage.
In a series of comments, user Farah Wahidah said the remarks purportedly by Sarimah were posted by the principal’s 25-year-old autistic son, said to go by the name Aiman, without her knowledge.
Farah said Sarimah lost her husband about three weeks ago, and is suffering from cancer.
Another user, Chyinta Arissa Adrina, said it is impossible for the comments to have been made by Sarimah as she herself has called on other teachers at the school to mind their behaviour following the issue highlighted by Ain Husniza. – The Vibes, May 12, 2021
