Teacher can challenge sacking for attending PKR event

Part-time religious teacher Qatrun Nada Mohd Latfi, who was sacked by the Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department (Jawi) for attending a ceramah by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim last November, can initiate a judicial review to challenge her sacking.

The High Court in Labuan today granted Qatrun Nada leave to do so after dismissing the preliminary objection from the Attorney-General's Chambers, which represented Jawi.

Her lawyer Mohamad Hanipa Maidin told Malaysiakini that Labuan High Court judge P Ravinthran overruled the objection, saying Qatrun Nada's application was not frivolous and vexatious.

She is seeking to challenge Jawi's order dated Oct 24, dismissing her as a religious teacher.

'Cannot be involved in politics'

Qatrun Nada received her notice of dismissal after being told by a local Umno leader that she should "not be involved in politics".

She attended Anwar's political talk on Sept 15 last year, after which the Umno leader contacted her and told her that as a civil servant, she could not be involved in politics.

After that, Qatrun Nada was summoned to meet with the assistant director-general at the Labuan Jawi office and her school principal as well, who wanted to know about her activities.

Subsequently, on Oct 24 last year, she received the notice of the termination of her service with effect from Dec 1.

Qatrun Nada has also lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), in which he also states that she was asked by a senator to join Umno and fill a party membership form, which she did not, resulting in Jawi giving her the marching orders.

However, the senator, Yunus Kurus, who is also Labuan Umno acting chief, has claimed that it was Qatrun Nada who had asked for the party membership form.