Teen receives rape threat from classmate after exposing male teacher

 

The 17-year-old student who highlighted rape jokes made by a male teacher at a Kuala Selangor school last Friday said she has since received a rape threat from her classmate.

“Yes, I got a rape threat from one of my male schoolmates at school. I cried. #MakeSchoolASaferPlace.

“But nevertheless, boys like him are exactly the reason why I continue my fight, teachers that continuously 'infect' that kind of mindset into boys need to be purged from our education system,” said Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam (above) in a Twitter posting today.

Her father, Saiful Nizam, also posted on Facebook about the rape threat her daughter received, saying he will lodge a separate police report over this.

On Saturday, he had lodged a police report about the inappropriate remarks made by the male teacher.

“Looks like there will be another report after my daughter got a rape threat from her classmate because they are unhappy about what happened and felt that it ‘sullies’ the good name of the school.

“Do you see? They do not agree and immediately threaten to rape. As simple as that. That’s ‘normal’ right? This mindset is said to be ‘normal’ by many whose opinions I receive on social media,” he said in his Facebook posting.

Saiful said he fully supported his daughter’s actions in raising awareness among the general public about the incident involving the male teacher.

His daughter’s actions, he said, is not meant to paint teachers as enemies, but to improve the system so that the same incident will not happen to others.

“This issue has received attention from all sorts of people (and) hopefully, this will be a turning point for the quality of our education and the society we are building for the future,” Saiful added.

It was also reported by Sinar Harian that he felt divided about allowing his daughter to go to school as usual on Monday, after he found out about the rape threat.

Ain alleged yesterday that a male teacher had made jokes about rape during a physical and health education class where the students were discussing sexual harassment on Friday, prompting widespread outrage on social media. 

“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).

"Then we were talking about how there are laws protecting minors from sexual abuse and harassment, and then he said 'If you want to rape someone, don't rape those under 18, rape those above 18'," she had said in a video on social media platform TikTok, which she then reposted on Twitter.

Ain had said she intends to lodge a complaint about the male teacher’s lewd remarks at her school on Monday.

Saiful reportedly said he will get the school’s response first, before lodging a complaint with the Education Ministry, even though he has been advised by friends to file an official complaint.

“On Monday, after going to the school, I will go to the district education office to get their response,” he said.

Bad behaviour can be changed 

Meanwhile, child activist Syed Azmi Alhabshi said it would be better for the accused teacher to improve and learn to explain things better, instead of having harsh action doled out against him.

“I know many like to preserve the good name of the school and hope all this can be resolved amicably within the school. I think that is why the child went to the school counsellor, but that is not enough in fixing the method.

“The school will definitely get a good name if any improvements can be carried out.

“I do not feel and am not sure that the accused teacher needs to have harsh action taken against him. It is enough for improvements (to happen) and for him to explain things in a better way.

Azmi said what people are against are not individuals, professions, schools or institutions. Instead, it is bad behaviour, which can be changed, he added.

As such, he congratulated Saiful for taking the appropriate measures in addressing the issue.

“For the school, I urge that you have an open mind, there is still space to improve.

“For the teacher, I am sure he can use a better tactic to avoid misunderstanding, accusations and discomfort.

“For the child, you have set a precedent which may save many other children throughout Malaysia. Congratulations.

“This is not a matter of who is right or wrong. This is about accessibility to the justice system for all,” he said. - Mkini