KOTA BARU: The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) allocates RM1.5mil annually to assist members facing legal action in the course of their duties as teachers.
NUTP president Aminuddin Awang, who revealed this, said the assistance covered civil suits and criminal prosecutions, with legal costs in some cases reaching RM80,000.
He said civil suits were increasingly being filed directly against teachers rather than the government or the Education Department.
“Sometimes, parents or members of the community file civil suits against teachers over matters that could actually be resolved without having to go to court,” he told reporters after attending the 24th NUTP triennial delegates’ conference here on Thursday night, Bernama reported.
Aminuddin said NUTP also provided legal assistance to members facing criminal prosecution if the case involved an element of mistreatment against the teacher.
He said NUTP provided legal assistance in 16 cases as of last August, including three currently undergoing trial in Kelantan.
“Among the cases teachers often face are those under Section 323 of the Penal Code for intentionally causing injury to another person.
“Although it is a criminal case, we will still provide legal assistance to our members,” he said.
Aminuddin said NUTP had a panel of law firms to handle cases involving its members and encouraged non-member teachers to join the union so they could get legal assistance when needed.
