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Kota Kinabalu: An English teacher who was sued by his former student for allegedly refusing to teach the subject eight years ago had admitted and regretted his wrongdoing, said a witness.

The 12th witness, a teacher of SMK Taun Gusi, Kota Belud, said the English teacher Mohd Jainal Jamrin (JJ) met her after the suit went viral while she was the Students Affairs Senior Assistant of the school.

“When he met me at that time, JJ was crying and admitted his wrongdoing for not going to class to teach and regretted his mistakes.

“He told me that he should not have committed such mistake as a teacher. Another teacher also heard his confession,” said the witness.

The witness was testifying before High Court Judge Datuk Ismail Brahim, during the hearing of the suit filed by Siti Nafirah Siman, 23, against  JJ, SMK Taun Gusi Principal Suid Hj Hanapi, SMK Taun Gusi, Kota Belud District Education Officer, State Education Director, Director General of Education, Education Minister and Federal Government, as the first, second, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eight defendants.

The plaintiff is seeking, among others, a declaration that the eight defendants breached their statutory duty under the Education Act by failing to ensure that she was taught the English language from Feb 2015 to Oct 2015 and prepare her for examinations as prescribed under the Education Act.

She is also seeking a declaration that the defendants are in breach of their duty under Regulation 3C, 25, 26 Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993; a declaration that the act by the first, second, fourth, fifth, seventh and eight defendants amounted to misfeasance in public office.

She is also seeking a declaration that the defendants have violated her constitutional right to access to education guaranteed to her under Article 5 read together with Article 12 of the Federal Constitution, damages, costs and any further and other relief which the court may deem fit.

The witness further testified that after the suit became viral, she had attended meetings with the State Education Director Datuk Maimunah Suhaib.

During the meetings, the witness said Maimunah had checked the Rancangan Pelajaran Harian (RPH) and opened the book.

“Maimunah said: I just saw the RPH and know it was just being completed because the paper on the book was new and it would be yellowish if it was an old report.

“She also said during the meeting that there was information which were not completed in the RPH,” the witness said.

The trial will continue on Nov 30 to Dec 1.

Counsel Shireen Sikayun defended Siti Nafirah while Senior Federal Counsel Jesseca Daimis and Federal Counsel Mohd Fazriel Fardiansyah Abdul Kadir acted for the defendants.