A teacher at a Chinese vernacular primary school in Penang is under investigation by the Penang education department for allegedly assaulting a nine-year-old pupil, leaving the boy with bruises on his back and arm. The incident occurred on 8 September at a school in the Barat Daya district.
Penang education director FMT reported that Dziauddin Mat Saad said the teacher involved had been temporarily transferred to the district education office pending the outcome of the investigations. He said this was not a punitive measure but simply to separate the teacher and student while allowing room for counselling.
“We do not want the student to be afraid of being in school,” he said, adding that the school’s management had met with the pupil’s parents to discuss the matter.
The case has also been reported to the police, who are holding their own investigation. “We are holding our internal investigation concurrently, while the education ministry has asked for the submission of an executive report,” Dziauddin told FMT.
Penang Gerakan has called for a thorough investigation into the complaint. Andrew Ooi, the party’s public complaints bureau chief, said the boy allegedly suffered bruises on the left side of his back and his left arm after being hit by the teacher.
“When a nine-year-old child allegedly suffers physical injuries that leave visible bruises following an incident involving a teacher, the matter cannot be treated as a routine disciplinary issue,” Ooi said in a statement.
Ooi stressed that while schools must maintain discipline, it must be carried out within appropriate boundaries. He said the pupil’s parents had planned a press conference but decided against it out of concern their child could face further retaliation or be marginalised at school.
He added that Penang Gerakan respected the family’s decision and chose not to disclose the identities of the pupil, teacher, or school involved to protect the child.
“This is not about publicly condemning or shaming the teacher, let alone sensationalising the issue,” Ooi said. “We came forward because a parent raised a concern, and as a public complaints bureau, we believe the concern deserves to be heard and properly investigated.”
