Teacher sacked for attending Anwar's ceramah

A part-time religious teacher has claimed that the Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department (Jawi) sacked her after she attended a ceramah given by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Qatrun Nada Mohd Latfi, who teaches in Labuan, said the Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department (Jawi) served her a notice of dismissal after receiving instructions from a local Umno leader.

"I attended Anwar's political talk on Sept 15. Following that, an Umno leader contacted me. He (the Umno leader) told me that since I am civil servant, I should not be involved in politics."

After the conversation with the Umno leader, Qatrun said, she was summoned to meet with the Labuan Jawi assistant director-general and her school principal.

"They wanted to know about my activities," she added.

According to her, there was no mention at the meeting about her attending the talk given by Anwar.

However, she did admit that she was actively involved in a PAS Muslimat NGO called Nisa.

Grounds for dismissal not stated
Qatrun subsequently received a letter from Jawi dated Oct 24, informing her of the termination of her service with effect on Dec 1.

She appealed a week ago and asked for the grounds of her dismissal.

However, a Jawi officer replied that based on her part-time contract, the department could terminate her service anytime without providing any reason, and this was confirmed by Qatrun.

Meanwhile, Inisiatif Selamatkan Insan Tertindas (Insan), an NGO fighting the political harassment of civil servants, slammed the sacking of Qatrun.

"Insan condemns Umno for exerting its influence on a public institution to go against someone who is sympathetic with the opposition," the NGO's coordinator, Mohd Faris Abdullah, said in a press statement.

Faris, who is also Labuan PAS Youth council member, said Insan would on Thursday send a protest memorandum to Jawi director-general Che Mat Che Ali on the matter.