A nine-year-old girl who allegedly is a victim of bullying has a damaged spine resulting from injuries sustained after getting beaten by three school bullies.
Identified only as Angah from a village in Ayer Hitam, the Year 3 pupil claimed that she was repeatedly bullied by three schoolmates and now leans to one side when she walks and is unable to raise her left leg.
“They would often try and take money from me. Sometimes for RM1 or sometimes RM4 but they would kick me on my thigh and back if I refused to give them any money.
“Once, they kicked me until I fell down the stairs,” she told reporters at her home yesterday with her parents by her side.
Her mother Che Hasma Ahmad, a nurse, said in her police report that from July 15 to 22 her daughter was warded at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital to seek treatment for leg pain and walking difficulties after a fall at school.
“Doctors said that my daughter’s spine has some complications,” she said.
Hasma, 33, said that after much coaxing, her daughter told her that her schoolmates had been bullying her.
“My daughter now walks to one side. She can’t raise her left leg,” she said, sobbing.
The family has lodged two police reports.
The incident came to light after a visit by state police psychological officer Wan Su Haron at the girl’s home in Kampung Gerbi Kubang Sepat.
Angah claimed the back pains had made it difficult for her to walk.
She was also said to be suffering from stress and has refused to go to school.
Hasma said she had noticed that Angah was not walking properly in June.
Asma said she brought Angah to Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, where her daughter underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan and X-ray between July 15 and 22.
“The doctor said her spine is bent, perhaps due to being hit but did not rule out other possible factors. She can’t walk for too long, and sometimes my husband and I have to carry her. Her back appears red and swollen. I feel sad every time I look at her in this condition,” said Asma.
Angah, she said, was scheduled to undergo surgery at the hospital on Aug 27.
State education and human resources committee chairman Dr Salmee Said, when contacted, said she was shocked to learn of the allegations.
“I will get the state Education Department to carry out an investigation immediately,” she said.