Parties involved in the caning of a student in Johor Baru last week have settled the matter amicably when the teacher and the student’s mother openly apologised to each other.
In a statement on Thursday, State Education, Human Resource, Science and Technology Committee chairman Aminolhuda Hassan said that both parties reconciled in his and Johor State Education director Azman Adnan’s presence during a closed-door meeting held at the Johor Baru District Education Office (PPD) earlier. The mother also withdrew her complaint filed with the Taman Tun Aminah Police Station in Skudai.
Aminolhuda said the settlement was a result of efforts from both parties, including the State Education Department, for a win-win solution without involving the law.
“Thanks to Johor Baru PPD and the school for their quick actions by holding a consultative session between those involved that resulted in the withdrawal of the police report lodged by the girl’s mother and the teacher openly apologised to the student and her mother for his actions,” he said.
“In order to ensure that the solution is fair, the department should not set aside the existing rules and take into account the welfare aspects of both parties, namely teachers and students,” he added.
He urged schools and teachers to understand the rules and refrain from being emotional when disciplining students and asked them to ensure the same incident would not recur.
In the incident, footage of a woman speaking with a teacher and photographs of a schoolgirl with red welts on her arms and legs went viral, allegedly after she was caned.
The caning came after the student was said to have called the teacher ah qua lao shi, which means effeminate, without any reason.
The teacher, who was humiliated, hit the student with a cane on her left arm and leg. The student’s mother then lodged a report against the teacher.
Johor police chief Datuk Mohd Khalil Kader Mohd said that investigations will continue on the mother’s claims that her daughter was caned by her teacher, despite the withdrawal of the police report. He said it is up to the Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) to rule the case settled.
Earlier, police said they are conducting a probe into the case under Section 324 of the Penal Code for deliberately causing injury.
Meanwhile, the teacher will still undergo counselling by the Johor education department, but no action will be made against the student.
“We will give her (student) another chance and the support necessary to continue her studies. I have instructed that she be counselled and continue to train as a school volleyball player,” he said, adding that she was not fluent in Bahasa Malaysia.
Aminolhuda said the student was from a less privileged family and that he had advised the student affairs senior teacher to pay extra attention.
Earlier report: Jun 25, Maszlee Promises Fair Probe into Teacher Who Caned JB Student over Slur Incident