‘Muhyiddin failed to prevent bullying of student’ | Free Malaysia Today

‘Muhyiddin failed to prevent bullying of student’

Lisa J. Ariffin | August 6, 2013-FMT 

The people are disappointed and disgusted with Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin for not taking action to curb the bullying of a SK Seri Pristina student, says DAP national vice-chairman M Kula Segaran.
PETALING JAYA: DAP national vice-chairman M Kula Segaran criticised Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today for failing to take action to prevent the bullying a SK Seri Pristina student, whose mother exposed the canteen incident.

Kula Segaran said Guneswari Kelly, who exposed the “makeshift canteen in a shower room” incident had received kidnap threats while her daughter was bullied by both classmates and teachers.

“Many people cannot believe that the teachers can be so unprofessional and cruel as to inflict psychological cruelty and pain on Guneswari’s daughter,” Kula Segaran said in a statement.

“Many are also worried about the impact of bullying on the girl,” he said.

Kula Segaran said Guneswari’s daughter was facing tremendous pressure, forcing her parents to even consider transferring her to another school.

“The daughter, who has become distraught and embarrassed by the finger- pointing, is being ostracised by her classmates. Even her attempt to win back friends by giving away pencils and highlighters has failed,” he said.

He quoted reports of the headmaster, Mohd Nasir Mohd Noor, who supposedly took photographs of non-Muslim students he suspected of  leaking the news to the public.

Kula Segaran said the people were disappointed and disgusted with Muhyiddin and his ministry officials for not taking action to curb the bullying.

“I had called on Muhyiddin to send an officer to address the school assembly and convey the message that his ministry will not tolerate any intimidation, bullying or discrimination against the pupils.
“Yet, Muhyiddin has not done anything,” he said.

Kula Segaran said “acts of intimidation, bullying and discrimination” were not trivial matters and should be addressed by the ministry.

“I want to ask Muhyiddin a question – are you powerless or heartless? Or both?” he asked.

Kula Segaran threatened to raise the issue at the next parliamentary session.

SK Seri Pristina in Sungai Buloh has come under fire for using a changing room as a makeshift canteen, due to some minor renovation work at the canteen.

Parents, however, said it was done to keep away the non-Muslim students from eating in the open during the fasting month of Ramadan.

Following a national uproar, the school and the ministry apologised to the parents, with the school headmaster saying that he had set up the makeshift canteen as the canteen was too small.

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