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Racial abuse teacher gets 'a better deal'
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Tue, Aug 12, 2008
NST
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>BANTING, MALAYSIA - It obviously pays to hurl racial abuse at students, going by what happened to the teacher who did so at a school here. The 35-year-old history teacher from SM Telok Panglima Garang was not only transferred to a smart school but to one located nearer her house.
To add insult to injury, no disciplinary action was taken against her.
It is understood that her letter of transfer stated that she was being transferred due to concerns for her security and not because she had committed an offence.
Several parents and non-governmental organisations gathered in front of the school yesterday demanding an explanation from the headmaster for letting her off with just a slap on the wrist.
However, the headmaster refused to meet them, saying the matter was no longer related to the school since the teacher had been transferred.
Coalition of Indian NGOs secretary G. Gunaraj said the transfer showed the teacher had got away scot-free.
"In fact, she even got a better deal. She is now in a better school and one that is nearer to her house."
He said this set a dangerous precedent as others may think they too can get away scot-free uttering racial slurs.
He said the Education Ministry should be serious in tackling the issue as what the teacher had done could affect racial harmony.
Gunaraj said some teachers in the school were blaming the affected students for lack of a history teacher.
"This should not be the case. Does it mean that students should keep quiet, no matter what a teacher does?"
In the incident last month, the teacher allegedly told students of a certain ethnic group in a Form Four class that she "wanted to test their level of patience" and then began abusing them with derogatory words.
She even wrote the words on the blackboard. Two students later lodged police reports against her.
Several days earlier, she had allegedly entered a Form Five class and called the students using a derogatory word. She also accused them of being gangsters and thieves.
She was also alleged to have ordered the boys to do push-ups. When some of them could not do so, she allegedly stomped on their backs.
Last Monday, nearly 500 parents and members of the public gathered to protest in front of the school.
Meanwhile, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said the ministry had instructed the State Education Department to initiate an inquiry and that the teacher "had some explaining to do".
State Education director Ashah Samah said she had wanted to transfer the person out of the state but had acceded to a request from the teacher to remain in the district.
She said the transfer letter was issued by the district education department and that she would investigate claims that security had been stated as the reason for the move.
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