KUALA LUMPUR – Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam is ready to take the fight back to the teacher who has filed a defamation suit against her over allegations of rape jokes made in class.
In a brief WhatsApp conversation with The Vibes, Ain’s father Saiful Nizam Abdul Wahab said that they are contemplating naming the school principal, education minister, and the director of Selangor's Education Department in their counter-suit.
“I believe that everyone should be accountable for their actions and take responsibility,” Saiful said when contacted.
Meanwhile, although Ain is facing this lawsuit while preparing for the SPM examinations in March, Saiful said his daughter is ready to soldier on and face her battles in court.
Saiful, however, admitted his shock over the teacher’s decision to file the defamation action at the Shah Alam sessions court.
“For me, it is quite shocking for the alleged teacher to do this, but we are ready.
“Ain is okay and so far I can see she’s a bit disturbed while getting ready for SPM next March,” Saiful added.
Meanwhile, former deputy education minister Teo Nie Ching slammed the government for their failure to resolve the situation.
She suggested that the Education Ministry should have intervened in the matter between a teacher and student with both maturity and wisdom.
“Had the education minister created a proper window for frank discussion and mediation for all parties to express themselves and hear each other out, this situation whereby a teacher and student are suing each other could have been avoided,” Teo said in a statement today.
She added that the indifference exhibited by the ministry has resulted in schools not being safe for students.
Teo further urged the ministry to seek expert advice and review SOPs and existing policies to address sexual harassment in schools.
The Kulai MP said that by allowing this dispute to happen, students will now lack the conviction and confidence to speak out.
“Victims who speak up must be protected and the system must not be designed to punish that courage taken to speak up.
“Ain’s right to expression and opinion must also be respected,” she said. – The Vibes, December 1, 2021
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