Students who won against absent teacher want to advocate education rights

 By Olivia Miwil - August 22, 2023 @ 2:19pm

Nur Natasha Allisya Hamali says many youngsters are being oppressed in certain ways and this created a cycle in which they might even become the next generation of oppressors. - Pic credit Tiada.Guru

KOTA KINABALU: Three former students who won a court case against an English teacher who was absent for seven months in Kota Belud will continue to advocate the rights of students.

Last month, High Court judge Leonard David Shim made the decision in favour of the three former students of SMK Taun Gusi, Kota Belud — Rusiah Sabdarin, Nur Natasha Allisya Hamali and Calvina Angayung, all aged 22.

After a month, the government did not file any appeal against the decision and thus made the High Court judgement for the plaintiffs as final judgement.

In a joint statement, Nur Natasha said the final decision was not the end as the three of them would want a fair and just education for everyone regardless of their race, skin colour and status.

"A clean education is our primary goal. It is to teach children in schools to think more critically by recognising the outside world and granting them the freedom to voice their opinions about their rights.

"This can further enhance the quality of our country's education and increase the number of highly qualified young people in Malaysia."

She said many youngsters are being oppressed in certain ways and this created a cycle in which they might even become the next generation of oppressors.

As for Calvina, she said while many congratulated and expressed their support towards their course in fighting injustice, there were also those who slandered them.

She said this was unfortunate because the decision for the case was made before a judge and the trial had been an opportunity for them to prove that the defendants were innocent.

Calvina hoped protection would be granted to their teacher, who appeared as a witness in the case as she fought at the expense of her safety and life.

"Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to express hope that the proceedings of my fellow comrade Siti Nafirah's (against similar case ) trial will go well," she said, adding her trial will resume from Aug 28-30 at the Kota Kinabalu High Court.