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Kota Kinabalu: A teacher told the court that the then principal of SMK Taun Gusi  was a manipulative person when handling the issue of teacher absenteeism.

English subject head Nurhaizah Ejab, 39, said Suid Hanapi was a person who like to twist issues and the problem of teacher absenteeism was left to her to solve.

According to Nurhaizah, Suid did not take any action to solve the problem of teacher absenteeism until a visit from the District Education Office (PPD), State Education Department (JPN) and Federal Education Ministry (KPM), where she was made a scapegoat when the principal blamed her for not informing him earlier about the problem.

“Suid also humiliated me in front of everyone during the end of the year meeting saying that I failed as English subject head even though I received an excellent award in 2014.

“Not only me became the victim but other teachers also as Suid had made the teachers  feel the stupidest, the most useless and the least good in managing. 

“Suid not only humiliated and blamed teachers. Students were also scared of him. For example, Siti Nafirah Siman, and three other students who filed the suit against English teacher and seven others, were forced and threatened to write good things about their English teacher Mohd Jainal Jamrin who failed to enter class to teach the subject,” she said.

Nurhaizah who testified before High Court Judge Datuk Ismail Brahim in the hearing of the suit filed by plaintiff Siti Nafirah, 23, against Mohd Jainal (JJ) first defendant, for allegedly failing to enter class to teach English subject to students eight years ago in SMK Taun Gusi.

Among others defendants in the suit were Suid, SMK Taun Gusi, Kota Belud District Education Officer, Sabah Education Director, Director General of Education, Minister of Education and Federal Government, who were named as second, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eight defendants, respectively.

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 February 2015 to Oct 2015 and prepare her for examinations as prescribed under the Education Act.

Nurhaizah further testified that she encouraged Ibrahim Jadoon, from United States, who was involved in the FullBright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) programme, to send message in the WhatsApp group about the problem of ‘Guru Ponteng’ in SMK Taun Gusi as Suid will not do anything to solve the problem.

“Since 2015, I never heard or see any fair action taken by Suid to solve the ‘Guru Ponteng’ issue. What I knew was that teachers who were involved in the problem will get less classes for the SPM and PT3 exams.

“Other than that, the teachers would also be given the subjects which were considered less important like Pendidikan Seni,” she said.

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

Counsel Datin Mary Florence Gomez (Sabah Law Society’s Women and Children’s Rights Sub-Committee Chairperson) and Yannik Mohd Annuar are holding a watching brief for Suhakam. Trial continues.