KOTA KINABALU: A witness from the United States said he used his own savings to pay for English tuition classes for the students of SMK Taun Gusi.
Ibrahim Khan Jadoon, who was an English Teaching Assistant (ETA) at the school from 2014-2015, said he was sad to see that nothing was done for the students although multiple reports on "guru ponteng" or absent teacher, were made.
Thus, he did what he could to help the students in 2016 even though he had already returned to the US.
He used his money saved from university when he worked two jobs during his degree studies to fund the tuition classes.
"It took me some time but I found a tuition centre in Pekan Kota Belud.
"It was roughly RM130 per month for two days of tuition but was only in June, July, August and September," he said, adding that about 10 to 15 students of 5PD in 2016 attended the English tuition clases.
He said: "It hurt me that the students were abandoned in 2015 and nothing was done in 2016. I didn't want the students to lose their hope."
Ibrahim was testifying before High Court Judge Datuk Ismail Brahim in the trial of a suit brought by the school's former student, Siti Nafirah Siman, against her former English teacher, Mohd Jainal Jamran.
To a question under examination-in-chief by counsel Shireen Sikayun, Ibrahim said when he communicated with the students, they were in despair over their preparation for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination.
The students shared that nothing had been done on the absent teacher issue, and when they entered Form Five, a female teacher who was Ibrahim's ETA mentor became their new English teacher.
Ibrahim said, although he knew the female teacher was one of the top English teachers in the school she would not be able to cover the English syllabus for two years in one year.
Ibrahim said the students were curious and asked him why he still cared about them when he was already back in the US.
"I remember telling them when I die, God will never ask me what colour my passport is as only he judges my actions.
"I knew I needed to do what the right and I was lucky to have the privilege to have some savings …. In some ways, I felt that I failed in 2015 when there was no action taken and the students were again abandoned.
"In 2016 these young kids living in the rural area were just trying to get an education," he said in a shaky voice.
Ibrahim testified that the female teacher (his ETA mentor) was the most caring teacher he had known at SMK Taun Gusi.
The female teacher received multiple threats for speaking up over this issue and until now no whistleblower protection on her.
He said the female teacher had also become the star witness in another similar civil suit of teacher absenteeism.
Ibrahim also expressed his disappointment as Jainal who lives in Kampung Taun Gusi could have been a great teacher and become a great example for the students but he instead became an absent teacher.
He also said that it was quite embarrassing the matter ended up in a legal battle and involved many parties when the matter could have been settled in April 2015 if action was taken after multiple reports were made.
"It's carelessness. The matter was not taken seriously."
In the suit filed on Oct 30, 2018, Siti Nafirah named Jainal as the first defendant. The other defendants are Suid Hanapi (then principal of SMK Taun Gusi), the Kota Belud district education officer, Sabah education director, education director-general, education minister and the government.
Senior federal counsel Jesseca Daimis and federal counsel Mohd Fazriel Fardiansyah Abdul Kadir acted for the defendants.
The trial has been adjourned to Jan 25 and 26,next year. The cross-examination will be conducted via Zoom as the 14th witness lives in the US.