Don’t victimise Ain Husniza for acting

GERAK (Pergerakan Tenaga Akademik Malaysia) is appalled at the news that Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam, 17, who recently revealed that one of her male teachers made a joke about rape, is now being threatened with expulsion for missing school.

Sadly, and ironically, as this is happening, we have heard nothing about actions taken against the teacher.

Ain’s brave exposure has had reverberations nationwide. She has revealed a rape culture that is evident in our educational institutions, despite defensive dismissals by those involved and, sadly, a lack of will and wisdom on the part of the authorities to address head-on this very real – and very frightening – problem facing our students.

Rape, as we and others have stressed, is a violent crime and must not be treated facetiously. Rape culture must be addressed and destroyed.

Ain has bravely spearheaded a movement that will lead to greater awareness and, hopefully, muchneeded action on reform and a safer learning environment for our students. Singlehandedly, she has awakened and even empowered many of us who may have been aware of this very serious problem in our environment yet have either swept it under the carpet or have been too timid to do something about it.

For that alone, Gerak stands firm in the belief that Ain and her actions must be applauded. She must not be penalised and

victimised for doing the right thing.

The authorities must investigate her revelations and take action instead of coming up with typical administrative rules to punish her.

Punishing the victim is not the way of an enlightened society; this is the way of barbarians.

GERAK EXCO