Kota Kinabalu: A teacher who spoke up for her students over the issue of teacher absenteeism in SMK Taun Gusi, Kota Belud, had received death threats from the absent teacher.
English subject Head Nurhaizah Ejab, 39, said she received the death threat from the English Teacher Mohd Jainal Jamran (JJ) during a meeting on Aug 24, 2015 at the District Education Office.
According to Nurhaizah, JJ had verbally threatened her during the meeting by saying “Jogo Kam Pepataiku Kam Duang Ngan”.
“He said this in Bajau which means, ‘beware, I’m gonna kill you both’.
“The word both refers to myself and Ibrahim Jadoon, from United States, who was involved in the FullBright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) programme,” she said.
She informed the court that she was sure the death threat was also heard by other teachers present in the meeting, including the language department head Norhana Idek.
“I believed Cikgu Norhana heard the death threat by JJ because the night after the meeting, I received a phone call from her and told me that the school’s clerk informed Cikgu Norhana that Ibrahim and I should not attend school the next day.
“Cikgu Norhana said the reason that they should not to go to school due to the concerns that JJ would try to do something worse to us.
“I was really scared and worried for the safety of both of us,” said Nurhaizah.
She testified before High Court Judge Datuk Ismail Brahim, in the hearing of the suit filed by plaintiff Siti Nafirah, against JJ (first defendant), for allegedly failing to enter class to teach English to students nine years ago in SMK Tau Gusi.
Among other defendants in the suit were Principal Suid Hanapi (in his capacity as Principal of SMK Taun Gusi), SMK Taun Gusi, Kota Belud District Education Officer, Sabah Education Director, Director General of Education Malaysia, Minister of Education Malaysia and Government of Malaysia, who were named as second, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eight defendants.
The plaintiff is seeking, among others, a declaration that eight defendants are in breach of their statutory duty under the Education Act by failing to ensure that she is taught the English language during the period of February 2015 to Oct 2015 and prepare her for examinations as prescribed under the Education Act.
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.
