MCA slams ‘vigilante’ teachers in Orang Asli abuse case

Teachers are expected to protect children in school and not cause them harm or trauma says Chong Sin Woon.

KUALA LUMPUR: Teachers should not take the law into their hands by acting as vigilantes, MCA Senator Chong Sin Woon said today in regard to the abuse of 10-year-old Orang Asli Siti Nur Azdilia after she was suspected of stealing from one of the teachers.

The MCA Youth National Chairman said that if the theft allegations were true, then the only reason the teachers had dared “to behave in such a despicable manner” was because they were taking advantage of the girl’s and her family’s probable lack of wealth and education.

“It is not up to the teachers or any Malaysian to descend into vigilantism by taking the law into their own hands,” he said, adding that teachers were expected to protect students in school and not cause them or their family members harm or trauma.

One of the teachers was also in cahoots with a man only known as Ali, who had proceeded to threaten the girl’s grandmother, Andak and her 10-year-old uncle Kiso a/l Abus, who is now being kept from school for his own safety.

Chong was also of the opinion that the “implicated teachers” should be suspended from their duties until they were cleared after a thorough investigation was carried out.

“If indeed the teacher did threaten the grandmother… (they) should be subjected to additional charges of harassment and criminal intimidation.”

Deputy Education Minister P Kamalanathan has ordered an investigation into the matter.