A secondary school teacher in Puncak Alam, Shah Alam, has finally filed a lawsuit against teenager Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam and her father for alleged defamation over claims he made “rape jokes” during physical education class.
Khairul Nizam Sanuddin, 43, filed the suit in the Shah Alam sessions court on Nov 26, claiming that Ain made defamatory statements against him between April 23 and 24 on her social media accounts, as well as in media interviews from April 26 to 30.
He claimed that Ain’s remarks were widely read and shared on social media.
“Her impugned statements were shared by netizens without my explanation on what really happened during the class.
“Her statements implied that I was a teacher who was obscene and purportedly harassed students,” Khairul said.
He explained that during the class, he was making reference to laws on sexual assault against children and contended that he was merely explaining the ways children can defend themselves when they were in such a situation.
“I never made any rape jokes during the class or encouraged a rape culture,” he said.
Khairul said he and other students from the class were summoned by police to provide their statements after Ain lodged a report.
He also alleged that Ain’s father, Saiful Nizam Abdul Wahab, made defamatory statements against him in a WhatsApp group and on his Facebook page on April 24, where it was said that he made “rape jokes”.
“Their remarks against me tarnished my name and humiliated me in public.
“Police had classified the case as NFA (no further action) but Ain still disputed the findings,” he said.
Khairul is seeking an injunction to bar the father and daughter from repeating the alleged statements on social media and damages.
He also wants a court order to compel Ain and Saiful to tender an apology.
Elyse Ng, the lawyer for Ain and Saiful, confirmed that the family received the court papers today. This was confirmed by Khairul on his Twitter account.
Earlier this year, Ain’s TikTok video detailing the alleged rape jokes had gone viral and led to other students and former students speaking out over their own experiences in school, with the hashtag #MakeSchoolASaferPlace trending on social media.
It was later reported that Ain received a rape threat from a male classmate, which her father reported to the police. The student later apologised and Saiful was said to have accepted the apology.
Khairul’s lawyers previously sent a letter of demand to Ain and Saiful, but they denied the allegations. – FMT