Batu Kawan MP Kasthuri Patto has called on Education Minister Mohd Radzi Jidin to step in and take charge after a student posted a video detailing the first-hand experience of rape jokes by her school teacher who made light of sodomy, sexual grooming and paedophilia.
She also called on the Perikatan Nasional government of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to act swiftly to address the decay in the education system in Malaysia and to bury rape culture and sexual grooming once and for all.
"The shocking yet courageous testimony by a student on her social media account of her first-hand experience of rape jokes and rape culture by her own school teacher has once again been brought to light that it is still happening in schools in Malaysia in 2021.
"The conversation that took place in school touched on a very important issue that all children must be made to understand and be aware of - sexual harassment and protecting yourself which is certainly a positive measure by the school.
"However, it took a nasty turn when the teacher spoke about existing laws in place to protect minors against sexual abuses. The teacher then makes an incriminating statement that ‘if you want to rape someone, make sure the person is over 18 years of age’.
"He also made another damning comment that ‘if boys get raped it doesn’t get reported because apparently, boys would feel ‘good’ about it," said Kasthuri.
In the video posted on TikTok and Twitter, student Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam, 17, said inappropriate remarks were made while students were discussing sexual harassment during a physical and health education class at her school in the Kuala Selangor district.
"It was going good you know, we were talking about sexual harassment, how to take care of yourself, your body rights.
"He was making a couple of jokes, but it seemed normal at first, but slowly the jokes were getting weird and more lucah (lewd)," she said.
Kasthuri said it was unacceptable that when Ain brought up the matter to the school's counselling teacher, the matter was brushed off.
"While he did apologise on behalf of the said teacher, there was no mention that he will take this higher to authorities. This shameless act to protect predators and sexual monsters by sweeping the matter under the carpet has become a norm in the past and even today.
"Will the school also stand up like the young and fearless girl and stand together with her in calling out paedophilia amongst their educators or take the easy way out by transferring the teacher out, thus transferring the parasite to another school.
"Will the school take on the teacher who made a rape joke and for normalising sodomy, sexual grooming and paedophilia in a school setting?" asked Kasthuri.
Ain told Malaysiakini that she planned to lodge a complaint about the lewd remarks at her school on Monday.
Her father, Saiful Nizam Ab Wahab, meanwhile, has lodged a police report over the matter yesterday.
Kasthuri questioned if the school could have taken the proactive step of making a police report together with the father of the student as they have a potential sexual predator who must be dealt with by the law in the country.
"Schools must listen to students when they speak up on sexual harassment or any kind of sexual approaches made by teachers, support staff and other members as part of the ecosystem in the school.
"We encourage students to report to their school authorities of any misconduct by teachers. But a no-action reaction will discourage others from doing so.
"Is this the kind of message we are going to pass on to the future leaders of our nation? That their voices are not heard and that their pain is ignored?" asked Kasthuri.
Ain's video also caught the attention of former education minister Maszlee Malik - who called on the school's principal to investigate the matter.
"Rape is not a joke, and teacher should be emphasising safety, not otherwise," he said.
Kasthuri said the alleged language used by the teacher was nauseating and disgusting and is the tip of the iceberg, planting in the young, fresh minds of students that rape jokes, rape culture, sodomy, sexual grooming, toxic masculinity and even paedophilia is a norm and should be accepted by children - our children - the future leaders of Malaysia.
"The irresponsible and ignorant manner in which the school has initially handled this grave situation by not addressing the rot in the education system and by taking a lackadaisical, tidak-apa attitude to the matter is something that has been happening for decades, but it cannot happen anymore.
"Schools must stop protecting educators who are monsters amongst our children," said Kasthuri.
She cited racist and sexist remarks to the recent exposure over period spot checks as reported by Malaysiakini as a sign that the education system in Malaysia needed to drastically change how it handled such matters.
"I call upon the education minister to step in, take charge and break the rape culture by ensuring that stern action will be taken on the teacher for his language used, his conduct and for him to face the long arm of the law.
"I call upon the Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Harun to commit tabling the Sexual Harassment bill with no delay when Parliament reconvenes after months of no sitting due to the Proclamation of Emergency by the government.
"I call upon the prime minister to take matters of our children in schools as seriously as he takes other matters and to ensure that this never happens again. As the former home affairs minister under Pakatan Harapan at one time, surely, he must know the process of going after real sexual predators and not artists or activists," said Kasthuri in reference to the recent arrest of satirical artist Fahmi Reza.
"I applaud the student for being the voice of courage and conscience and to her family for being supportive to pursue the matter further. It is unfortunate that she had to be subjected to this," she added.
She said a government that fails a child is preparing to fail a generation.
Fadhlina Sidek - head of legal and community development of Wanita PKR - also weighed in on the matter, calling for immediate action from Radzi.
"This serious allegation involves educators who are supposed to provide advocacy and accurate information on the issue of sexual harassment.
"Ridiculing the crime of rape and the dignity of women is a real form of sexual harassment as well as morally wrong. The irresponsible act of the educators is a serious allegation and requires a thorough investigation because it is feared that the ‘rape culture’ will spread and become normalised in society.
"Radzi should immediately respond and take full responsibility for these serious allegations and Rina needs to address why there is a continued delay in the tabling of the Sexual Harassment Act Bill in Parliament," she added. - Mkini
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