Syed Azmi: Transferring molest case teachers not enough

There should be no contact whatsoever between any teacher under investigation and students, even if investigations are not complete, says activist.

PETALING JAYA: Alleged student molesters should not have any contact with children even if investigations have not been completed, social activist Syed Azmi Alhabshi said today.

He was commenting on the Education Ministry’s reply in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday that there had been 15 cases of teachers who had molested students between 2010 and this year.

In May this year, it was reported that a teacher had allegedly molested nine pupils in a Tamil School in Hulu Selangor.

The ministry said that teachers involved in these molestation cases had been transferred to other districts and were now under the supervision of the state education departments, pending investigations.

Questioning the transfer of such teachers, Syed Azmi said they should not be allowed to come into contact with students while their cases were being investigated.

“(The answer) Transferring to another school is too vague. Does this mean they are put in a place where there is no contact with children? If not, are we waiting for another ‘allegedly molested’ headline?

“Is firing the teacher the right move now? I don’t think so, as the law must take its course,” Syed Azmi told FMT.

He lamented that there were insufficient non-governmental organisations (NGOs) providing rehabilitation and counselling for victims of molestation, especially at Tamil schools.

“What about the kids in Tamil schools? How many agencies and NGOs do we have in the country that can provide rehabilitation, counselling and support sessions for them?

“It hurts me more that it happened in a minority group school. Words are just words, we have to do something, even if it is baby steps at first,” he said.