KUALA LUMPUR: Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) has submitted a memorandum to the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) calling for schools in the country not to cover up cases of sexual harasment from the police.
The memorandum was handed over by Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy.
Suaram project coordinator Mohammad Alshatri said a school was supposed to be a safe place for children and the principals had a responsibilty to ensure no such cases happened at their schools.
“We are looking at sexual harassment at schools seriously and there should be a specific mechanism for school authorities in handling these issues.
“A 10-year-old female student was molested by her teacher at SK Taman Nirwana, Ampang, and yet the police investigation was delayed by the school.
“It was also reported that the teacher was transferred to the current school where he is teaching, after was accused of sexual harassment towards his students in his previous school, which for us is very worrying.
“The school’s principle was late in taking action towards the complaint made by the parents of the victim. The school should have helped the victim much earlier to lodge a report about the harassment to the police,” he told the press at Suhakam’s office.
Suhakam commissioner Datuk Lok Yim Pheng said it was a must for every school to protect the rights of students to study in a safe and condusive environment without fear of any danger.
“We are looking at this matter seriously and I can see the parents are not happy with the cooperation given by the school which had taken the issue lightly.
“The school principal needs to act more professionally in handling this kind of issue and investigation by the police should be given utmost attention.
“The school assumed that the matter was not serious. They cannot cover up. Action should be taken by the police,” she said.
Suaram urged Suhakam to investigate the matter and said that the Education Ministry should consider telling teachers with sexual harassment history to go on leave immediately rather than transfer them to a different school.
Meanwhile, the parents of the victim, who were present at the event, said they were dissapointed by the manner the school’s administration handled the case and believed their daughter was not the only victim.