Don’t get emotional, teachers attending trial urged

SEREMBAN: The several hundred teachers expected to turn up at the Seremban magistrate’s court today to support their colleague, who is on trial for allegedly hurting a student, have been told to keep their emotions in check.

They were also warned against being provoked by anyone planning to take advantage of the case or associating with anyone from any political party.

National Union of Teaching Prof­ession (NUTP) president Kamaro­zaman Abd Razak said the only reason teachers were asked to be present was to give moral support to their colleague, known only as Cikgu Azizan.

“There should be no speeches. Teachers must remember that they are civil servants and are bound by provisions in the General Orders,” he said here yesterday.

The NUTP estimated that several hundred teachers are expected to be present to support Cikgu Azizan, who teaches in a Nilai school.

On Oct 31, the teacher pleaded not guilty to a charge of slapping a male student for indiscipline, including being involved in glue-sniffing, bullying and playing truant.

Charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt, he faces a jail term of up to a year, a RM2,000 fine or both.

Cikgu Azizan was later released on a RM500 bail.

Teachers attending the trial, said Kamarozaman, should refrain from politicising the matter.

“We should not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of by anyone from any political party.

“If teachers attending the case have any query, they are only to refer the matter to NUTP,” he said, adding that those present should also not associate themselves with any politician who turned up to lend support.

Kamarozaman, who also promised to be present, said he wanted NUTP members to know that the union fully supported Cikgu Azizan.

He added that NUTP had appointed a lawyer for Cikgu Azizan.

Based on an online poll indicating support for the teacher conducted on pendidik2u.my, a website for educators, 103,314 of the respondents said they supported Cikgu Azizan.