KOTA KINABALU: An English teacher who was sued by his former students over his absenteeism expressed gratitude and considered the suit as a "hidayah" (divine guidance) for him.
Former English subject Head Nurhaizah Ejab, 39, further testified that after the lawsuit was filed in 2018, Mohd Jainal Jamran expressed remorse.
He even cried and apologised to her and Siti Nafirah Siman (the plaintiff), she said.
"He (Jainal) said he did not blame Siti Nafirah for filing the lawsuit, in fact he was very grateful that the lawsuit happened.
"Jainal confessed that he did not attend 4PD class. He said that the suit was a 'hidayah' for him because he hasn't been to class in a long time," he said while informing the court that the incident happened on Nov 5, 2018 in the principal's room.
Nurhaizah was testifying before High Court Judge Datuk Ismail Brahim in the trial of a suit brought by SMK Taun Gusi former student, Siti Nafirah against Jainal for failing to teach the subject to her and her classmates for several months in 2015.
The other defendants were 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.
To another question, Nurhaizah testified that after the suit went viral, Jainal had also shed tears of remorse for not attending the teaching class when he was in the Student Affairs Room on Nov 7, 2018. The incident was witnessed by another teacher.
Nurhaizah said Jainal expressed his intention to support her and the plaintiff.
"Jainal said he wants to become a witness for the forged documents. Jainal said he no longer wants to forge documents as instructed by other defendants.
"Jainal also asked me to meet the school principal together to prove that the principal had also ordered him to forge the signature in 'Buku Kawalan Kelas' in 2015. Jainal asked me to record the meeting with the principal," said Nurhaizah.
Siti Nafirah was represented by counsel Shireen Sikayun. 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).
The trial was adjourned to April 23 and 24.