Two reports lodged over alleged bullying at Chemor religious school

IPOH: A mother has called for swift action after claiming that her two teenage sons were bullied at a secondary religious school in Chemor, with one allegedly slapped six times by a teacher.

Noor Azwani Ahamad, 43, said her elder son, a Form Six student, was slapped by the teacher on July 21 after he was found carrying a mobile phone during an examination.

She said the incident left her son with a jaw injury and unable to complete his paper because of the pain and shock.

"My son told me he was slapped six times. After that, he could not answer his examination paper because he was confused and in pain.

"He was also pulled by his shirt and threatened with a fist to his stomach," she said at a press conference here today.

Noor Azwani said she contacted the teacher later that day to ask why her son had been hit.

She said the teacher told her that her son had been punished for bringing a mobile phone to school.

"I asked whether other students who had phones were also punished in the same way. I was told the students had previously been informed that phones were no longer allowed, but there was no notification to me as a parent," she said.

She said her son then underwent a dental examination and was found to have suffered a jaw injury.

Noor Azwani said her younger son, 17, was bullied at the same school's hostel on Aug 5 around 11pm when another student attempted to shave his head with a hair clipper.

"According to my son, the student tried to shave his head bald. There was a struggle, and he tried to defend himself.

"He was slapped twice and punched twice in the neck before being punched in the face. His head was then cut after hitting a sharp part of a fire extinguisher," she said.

She said her son was left bleeding and was neither taken to hospital nor allowed to contact her.

"He was looking for the warden while bleeding and in pain. He eventually collapsed and briefly lost consciousness.

"I am very disappointed because the school should have contacted me so I could have taken him to hospital," she said.

She said the incident was later recorded as a fight, although she maintained that her son had been defending himself.

Noor Azwani said she had lodged police reports over both incidents and raised the matter with the school and district education office.

She said she was told action would be taken against the teacher, including the possibility of suspension or transfer.

"However, the teacher is still at the school. He is no longer teaching my son, but he is still there," she said.

Noor Azwani said she had since removed both sons from the hostel, but they continued attending the same school temporarily as they needed to sit for their examinations.

"I no longer feel safe sending them to the hostel. If necessary, I am prepared to let them study from home or online and only attend school for their examinations," she said.

Noor Azwani, a single mother who runs a practical assessment centre, said she decided to speak publicly about the matter after struggling to cope with the incidents involving both sons.

"I felt traumatised because after one son was assaulted, the other became a victim of bullying. I did not know where to seek help or guidance.

"I just want the authorities to take the necessary action and ensure this does not happen to other students," she said, adding that she would take legal action against the parties involved.

Meanwhile, district police chief Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Najib Hamzah, when contacted today, confirmed that police had received two reports of the incidents.

"We are investigating both cases under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt," he said.