Wao Letter Of Demand Issued To Ain Husniza A Form Of Intimidation

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Scandals involving educators misbehaving in the presence of students in schools are not unusual. -NSTP/MOHAMAD SHAHRIL BADRI SAALIKUALA LUMPUR: Scandals involving educators misbehaving in the presence of students in schools are not unusual.
They occur so often that schools are no longer considered safe for students, said Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) research and advocacy officer Anis Farid.
She said the letter of demand for 17-year-old Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam and her father to apologise and pay monetary compensation worth RM1 million for allegedly defaming a teacher in her school was a form of "intimidation and warning" to others.
"There have been, in the past, alleged incidents of inappropriate behaviour by teachers, but no one wanted to speak up about it for fear of repercussions.
"This letter of demand is clearly an act of intimidation and warning to others to think twice before they make such accusations. This cannot be allowed to happen.
"Our schools cannot be safe until we have mechanisms in place to prevent sexual harassment, including when training teachers," she told the New Straits Times today.
Ain and her father Saiful Nizam Abdul Wahab received the letter of demand on Wednesday, for alleged defamation.
The letter had stated, apart from demanding the monetary compensation, that the two had seven days to complete the demands, failing which would result in further legal action against the family.
Ain had called out a teacher at her school for making a rape joke. The teacher, who had never been named, was subsequently transferred out of the school.
Anis said the letter was grossly unfair as Ain was still a 17-year-old student.
"When girls speak up about what they have gone through, they should be listened to and given the benefit of doubt.
"In Ain's case, speaking up has made her into a symbol of hope and bravery for many people who've gone through similar experiences. It's a powerful thing.
"We should focus on sharing Ain's narrative and get others who've encountered similar situations to speak up about it.
"Ain had touched the lives of so many people, she has started a powerful movement. People have begun to learn, listen and take these issues seriously as well as be willing to partake in dialogues and conversations on issues like this."
Anis demanded transparency on the "no further action" (NFA) classification on the police investigation into the alleged misbehaviour by the teacher.
"The experiences of our children must be heard. Our justice system has failed if it cannot protect the most vulnerable amongst us.
"There must be more transparency in the investigation, and the Education Ministry must disclose the outcome of the internal inquiry.
"We cannot sweep this under the carpet anymore. It is detrimental to our children, women and society as a whole".
Anis also called on schools to be proactive and take necessary action to protect their students.
"Schools must have a mechanism that allows students to seek help and file complaints if they feel unsafe. They should also refer to the ministry for guidance, in which the latter should be prepared to oversee, support, and guide them through the process.
"There must be trusted adults within schools who are equipped and trained to handle these cases sensitively.
"The Education Ministry should play its part to ensure that there is a standardised complaint mechanism and standard operating procedures on how to handle these complaints.
"Everyone, from schools to government ministries, has a role to play in keeping schools and children safe". - NST

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