A teacher is being investigated for allegedly sexually assaulting young boys in a secondary school in Kuala Lumpur.
It is understood that several 13 and 14-year-olds were alleged to have been assaulted by the teacher, who also trains the school’s badminton team.
The teacher has apparently been placed in a “pool” within the Education Ministry, pending the results of the investigation.
When contacted by Twentytwo13, the ministry’s sport, co-curricular and arts division director Zainuren Mohd Nor said the matter was now being investigated by police.
“I can’t comment (further) … it’s still being investigated. It’s now being handled by the police but the ministry is also carrying out its investigation,” he added.
Zainuren declined to comment further.
The matter has caught the attention of the BA of Malaysia (BAM), the guardian of the sport in the country.
“Yes, we heard about it. We are very concerned,” said BAM general secretary, Datuk Kenny Goh.
“It is being investigated by the relevant parties, namely the Education Ministry. We will keep close tabs on the matter.”
As a former teacher himself, Goh added: “As a teacher, one is sworn to protect every child in school. The welfare of a child must always be the priority”.
This incident comes as 60 entities from the Education, and Higher Education Ministries, signed their commitment in April to implement the Safe Sport Code, which was introduced on March 15.
Last month, the Education Ministry revealed that it was finalising new guidelines to address sexual harassment and bullying in schools.
There have been several cases of harassment and abuse involving athletes and students in Malaysia.
In July, a dodgeball coach was suspected of sexually harassing several students at a primary school.
Earlier this year, a coach was caught on video slapping a volleyball player during the Under-14 Junior Volleyball Championship in Kota Tinggi,
National diving champion Datuk Pandelela Rinong revealed that she had been harassed and had to endure unsavory jokes by a former coach.
