KOTA KINABALU: A teacher disclosed that the teacher absenteeism case in SMK Taun Gusi, Kota Belud has been associated with "World War III" and "national security threat".
Nurhaizah Ejab, 39, said the school's former language department head Norhana Idek was under pressure from various parties including the Sabah state education director.
"She (Norhana) said: 'Third world war would break out'. She (Norhana) described this case as a national security threat," said Nurhaizah when asked by counsel Shireen Sikayun to summarise a conversation recording transcript between her and Norhana after the case went viral in 2018.
Nurhaizah was testifying before High Court Judge Datuk Ismail Brahim in the trial of a suit brought by the school's former student, Siti Nafirah Siman, against Jainal Jamran, her former English teacher, for failing to teach the class for several months in 2015.
In the suit filed on Oct 30, 2018, Nafirah also named the then principal of SMK Taun Gusi, Suid Hanapi, the Kota Belud district education officer, Sabah education director, the education director-general, the education minister, and the government as defendants.
Nurhaizah said Norhana related the teacher absenteeism case as a security threat because the district education office, Sabah education department, and the government were sued by a student.
"Norhana asked me to think for the country, for all."Nurhaizah also testified that Norhana was crying asking for sympathy because she feared to be transferred to the interior and leave her only daughter in Kota Belud.
"She (Norhana) knew she was wrong for not taking action against Jainal in 2015," said Nurhaizah, adding that Norhana was also aware that she (Norhana), the then principal, and Jainal were subject to disciplinary action for their negligence.
Nurhaizah said Norhana also told her that the case does not need to go to court because Jainal had received retribution for not attending class with the case going viral throughout Malaysia.
For the record, Norhana had on Aug 16, last year testified that in 2015, she suffered from depression, often got sick and was always crying due to the pressure of managing English teachers.
Nafirah was represented by Shireen. Senior federal counsel Jesseca Daimis and federal counsel Mohd Fazriel Fardiansyah Abdul Kadir acted for the defendants.
Sabah Law Society's Women and Children's Rights Sub-Committee chairperson Datin Mary Florence Gomez and counsel Yannik Mohd Annuar held a watching brief for the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).
