Police: Dad who slapped teacher took law into his own hands
The Star

BUKIT MERTAJAM, MALAYSIA - The man who allegedly slapped a teacher for taking disciplinary action against his 11-year-old son should have consulted school officials instead of taking the law into his own hands.

Penang acting police chief Senior Asst Comm I Datuk Salleh Mat Rasid said the man had committed a serious offence.

'This should not have happened as there are proper avenues for the man to voice his dissatisfaction,' he added.

The man had allegedly stormed into SK Juru on Friday and slapped the teacher in front of the headmaster and several teachers at the school canteen.

The teacher had allegedly slapped his son and several other pupils for misbehaving inside the school library on Thursday.

SAC Salleh said the father could have also approached the Parent-Teacher Association to obtain a clearer picture rather than using violence against the teacher.

He added that both the parties had lodged police reports.

'We have sought the consent from the Deputy Public Prosecutor's office to commence the probe,' he told reporters after attending a state-level school cadet corps parade involving more than 400 cadet police from 57 secondary schools here yesterday.

Also present was state education director Ibrahim Mohamad.

Ibrahim told reporters that the incident was an isolated case as the father was believed to have been overwhelmed by emotion.

Man slaps teacher for punishing son
New Straits Times

BUKIT MERTAJAM: A man slapped a teacher on Friday for punishing his 11-year-old son who was alleged to have been misbehaving in the school library.

State acting police chief Datuk Salleh Mat Rasid said police had received reports from both sides following the incident at SK Juru.

He said such an incident should not have occurred as parents had proper channels to air their dissatisfaction instead of taking the law into their hands.

The boy, a Year Five pupil, and several of his classmates were punished for misbehaving in the library on Thursday.

Salleh said this after attending a state-level marching-out ceremony for 400 cadet police members from 57 secondary schools.

State Education Department acting director Ibrahim Mohamad said he hoped the school authorities and the parent would find an amicable solution to the matter.

He said the man had gone to the school to meet the headmaster.

"However, it was unfortunate that he decided to attack the teacher instead of consulting the headmaster over the incident involving his son."

The man had stormed into the canteen and slapped the teacher in front of several teachers and the headmaster.