A 16-Year-Old Died By Suicide After He Was Allegedly Bullied By His Teachers In School
"One thing led to another and the boy could no longer take it anymore."
By May Vin Ang — 07 Feb 2020, 12:23 PM
A Form Four student in Bukit Mertajam, Penang took his own life on Tuesday, 4 February, after he was allegedly bullied by his teachers in school
His family believes that the 16-year-old boy, S.K. Logamitraa, was suffering from depression after he was allegedly "targeted" by some teachers in school, reported New Straits Times.
According to Malaysian Tamilar Kural president David Marshel, who spoke on behalf of the family, the boy had appealed to be transferred to a better class since the start of the new school session. He was in the second last class in school.
However, the request went unheeded. David also told reporters yesterday, 6 February, that some teachers had picked on the boy in school.
"Certain teachers would often subject the boy to shame by reprimanding him on his attire, his hair, and such"
Speaking to The Star, David said that in January, "Logamitraa was made to take off his trousers after teachers claimed it was tight-fitting and made him wear shorts for the rest of the day."
Even the student's favourite keychain, which he had kept for a long time, was taken away from him because his teachers claimed it was a sharp object.
"Everything started when he asked to change class. One thing led to another and the boy could no longer take it anymore," David added.
David said the family currently wants answers from the teachers
"He never had any problems before and now he is gone," he said when met at Logamitraa's final rites at his house in Taman Sejahtera yesterday morning.
Logamitraa is survived by his parents and 15-year-old sister.
It was reported that his family members were too distraught to speak.
David said the outcome could have been different had teachers exercised greater care and understanding when dealing with their students
He said the boy's mother had advised her son to study harder so that he could move to a better class soon without appealing for a change.
"The day he took his life was supposed to be the first day he attended tuition class to improve his grades, but it was not meant to be," he said, adding that the boy never had any problems at home.
When contacted, State Education Department director Abdul Rashid Abdul Samad, said they would leave it to the police to investigate the matter.
Meanwhile, Seberang Prai Tengah district police chief Assistant Commission Nik Roz Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said a post-mortem examination was conducted and they have ruled out foul play.
Suicide is never the answer.
If you or anyone you know may be at risk of suicide, please call these Malaysian hotlines:
1. ALL WOMEN'S ACTION SOCIETY (AWAM) - TELENITA
Address: 85, Jalan 21/1, Sea Park, 46300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Contact: +603-7877 0224 | Website
2. BEFRIENDERS
Address: 95 Jalan Templer, 46000, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Contact: +603-7956 8144 | +603-7956 8145 | [email protected] | Website
3. DBKL TELECOUNSELLING
Address: Tingkat 1, Menara DBKL, Jalan Raja Laut 50350 Kuala Lumpur.
Contact: 1800-88-2600 | 03-26179905
4. TALIAN NUR
Contact: 15999 | [email protected]
5. WOMEN'S AID ORGANISATION (WAO)
Contact: +03-7956 3488 |[email protected] | Website
