NUTP rallies support Cikgu Azizan who faces assault charges

A teacher from Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Taman Semarak in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, is facing charges for allegedly assaulting a student whom he claimed had sniffed glue and skipped schools regularly.

The teacher, only identified as "Cikgu Azizan" had attended his first court hearing on Oct 31 where he was charged under Section 323 of the Penal code which carries punishments for voluntarily causing hurt.

If convicted, Azizan could face a year's jail or a fine up to RM2,000, or both.

In a statement last Friday, the National Union for Teachers and Parents (NUTP) had called on Malaysian teachers to lend support for Azizan who will be brought to court tomorrow.

"NUTP will provide legal support to defend Cikgu Azizan. At the same time, we urge all teachers in Malaysia to show their moral support by attending the court hearing on Dec 19 at 8.30am at the Seremban Magistrate Court," the statement said.

According to the pendidik2u.my website, Azizan is known as a strict disciplinary teacher who handles tough cases involving juvenile delinquencies such as sniffing glue, bullying, violence and more.

An article on the website said the teacher did not expect that he would be charged under the said section.

During his hearing, Azizan pleaded not guilty and he was released under a RM500 bail. However, while awaiting bail, the teacher was allegedly placed in the same lock-up as 13 convicts facing serious offences. He was handcuffed with one who was facing a drug offence.

The charges brought against him were made over an incident where he apparently slapped a student whom he claimed was sniffing glue within school grounds and invited three other students to join him.

The student was alleged to have been involved in other disciplinary cases such as bullying, beating other students and skipping school by climbing over the school gate.

Yesterday, a local daily reported that more than 200 teachers are expected to attend the court hearing on Tuesday to show their support to Azizan.

NUTP Negeri Sembilan chairman, Abu Hurairah Suak said more than 100 teachers showed their support for Azizan when the charge documents were brought to the same court on Nov 27.

"Aside from teachers, Cikgu Azizan will receive support from Parents Teachers Associations (PTA) and mosque committee members.

"We believe that our support for him will lift up his spirits and I hope more teachers will participate and show support this coming Tuesday," he said.