Kota Kinabalu: A History teacher testified that two male students, who were suspended for a week over a bullying case involving a Form One student after Zara Qairina Mahathir’s incident, had been referred to the Guru Bimbingan dan Kaunseling (GBK).
Muliati Alihudin, 41, the 56th witness, revealed this when questioned by counsel Shahlan Jufri.
The bullying incident allegedly occurred in September, this year, in which the student was allegedly kicked and slapped.
Shahlan: On Sept 8, this year, did the Discipline Unit receive any report of an assault case in the boys’ hostel?
Muliati: I don’t remember, but it was related to the shirt-ironing incident.
Shahlan: How did this bullying case come to your knowledge?
Muliati: The Discipline Unit learned about it from the warden as it happened in the hostel.
Shahlan: This assault happened in the boys’ hostel where the Form One student was slapped by the dorm head, correct?
Muliati: It was related to the clothes-ironing incident.
Shahlan: You know the student had been kicked and slapped, right?
Muliati: Yes, I know.
Shahlan: What happened to the ‘pembuli-pembuli’?
Muliati: The students were investigated by the police.
Shahlan: Were they suspended from school?
Muliati: They were suspended for a week.
Shahlan: Who decided to suspend them?
Muliati: The Discipline Unit.
Shahlan: What action was taken against the ‘pembuli-pembuli’ after their suspension ended?
Muliati: They were referred to GBK.
During the proceedings, Muliati appeared reluctant to reveal what had happened regarding the alleged bullying case, prompting Shahlan to ask what had prevented her from disclosing details about the alleged incident in the boys’ hostel.
When asked to explain the alleged incident, most of her answers were that she was unsure, did not remember or that it was not within her knowledge, which led Shahlan to repeatedly pose the same questions.
She further testified that the five students who were the last to meet Zara before her death were also referred to GBK after receiving a verbal warning, as the matter involved police investigations and court procedures.
She agreed that using harsh language was a serious offence but disagreed that it constituted verbal bullying.
Meanwhile, in response to a question from Conducting Officer Mohd Fairuz Johari on why the school conducted an internal investigation after the police took over Zara’s case on July 16, Muliati said they wanted to know what had actually happened before Zara was found unconscious on the grounds of the school hostel.
She added that they also carried out the investigation to assist the police, and that it was also intended for intervention and rehabilitation purposes for the students involved.
In answering another question from Fairuz, Muliati said she was not sure whether any students had been referred to the Ministry of Health.
Trial continues.
