#PrayForCikguAzizan: Netizens Show Support For Teacher On Trial For Slapping A Student
A teacher at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Taman Semarak has been charged for allegedly assaulting a student.
By Tang Ruxyn — 18 Dec 2017, 01:18 PM
The hashtag #PrayForCikguAzizan has been making its rounds on social media in response to a news about a teacher who has been charged for allegedly assaulting a student in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan
According to media reports, Cikgu Azizan (whose real name is Azizan Manap) is a teacher at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Taman Semarak in Nilai. He was said to have slapped a student and has been dragged to court for his action.
Cikgu Azizan attended the first hearing of his court case on 31 October, and he has been charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code, which is punishable by a jail term of up to one year or with a RM,2000 fine or with both, upon conviction.
It was alleged that Cikgu Azizan had punished the student for his disciplinary problems
Education portal pendidik2u.my published a chronology of the case on its website, stating that Cikgu Azizan took stern actions against the boy in the case, who was caught for truancy and bullying cases. The boy also allegedly assaulted other students.
It was also alleged that the boy was involved in glue-sniffing and influenced three other students to do the same.
Pendidik2u.my has been on the forefront in campaigning support for Cikgu Azizan, urging teachers and the public to show up in solidarity at the Seremban Magistrate Court on 19 December at 8.30am for his trial. Those who cannot be present have been asked to use the hashtag #PrayForCikguAzizan to show their moral support.
The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) has also urged teachers to to lend support for Cikgu Azizan who will be brought to court tomorrow, 19 December
NUTP said in a statement signed by NUTP secretary-general, Henry Tan Huat Hock, that it will be providing legal support to defend Cikgu Azizan.
Meanwhile, Berita Harian reported NUTP Negeri Sembilan chairman, Abu Hurairah as saying that more than 100 teachers were present when the charge documents were brought to the same court on 27 November, and 200 teachers are expected this time around.
"I am very hopeful that this time more teachers will be present to support Cikgu Azizan. This support is very important in lifting up his spirits," he reportedly said.
It was also revealed that the SK Taman Semarak's Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) has expressed its worries that parents have resorted to taking legal action against teachers, who have to deal with difficult students
"The purpose of the teacher's action is to educate, the PTA is concerned that the attitude of some parents will cause disciplinary cases to become more severe and spread among SK Taman Semarak pupils as a result of fear and worry among teachers to help shape the children's discipline SK Taman Semerak following this incident," read the message on the Telegram app purportedly by the school's PTA president.
It was said that the PTA will continue to lend its full support to Cikgu Azizan for the benefit of students and teachers at SK Taman Semarak.
Many netizens have since expressed their support for Cikgu Azizan and stressed that teachers should be empowered to educate and discipline children, adding that parents must also play their role
There were also conversations on the approach taken to discipline problematic students, as some opined that teachers should never resort to physical punishment
