Kedah school principal quits amid student sexual harassment scandal

Summary

• Kedah Keat Hwa High School principal resigns, citing health reasons, amid a sexual harassment scandal.

• Seven police reports have been lodged against the teacher accused of the harassment.

• Vice-principal also steps down.

Amid sexual harassment allegations involving a teacher, the principal of Kedah Keat Hwa High School has resigned, while her vice-principal has stepped down pending investigations.

Police revealed that they have received seven reports against the teacher in question - six by the school's alumni.

Kota Setar district police chief Siti Noor Salawati said yesterday that investigations into two of the reports had been completed and submitted to the prosecution for further action.

On April 19, police arrested the teacher. The school subsequently suspended him before he was terminated.

In a statement late last night, the Keat Hwa school board announced that principal Chang Siew Hong had resigned, citing health reasons, while vice-principal Khor Chee Beng stepped down from his position until the investigation concluded.

Supervision task force

In response, the school and the board have set up a supervision task force led by a senior board member to ensure the school administration and student learning remain unaffected until the end of the investigation and subsequent arrangements are made.

Additionally, it said that to ensure the investigation remains independent and fair, the board will submit a formal report to the United School Committees' Association of Kedah recommending the formation of an independent team to conduct a comprehensive probe into administrative misconduct within the school.

“This team should consist of members of the association or individuals with public credibility. School board members and the parent-teacher association members will not be involved,” it added.

The board has also decided to cancel a planned school fundraising bazaar, redirecting resources and manpower toward school reform and improvements, with a full focus on safeguarding students’ learning rights and ensuring campus safety.

The board also expressed deep sorrow over the sexual harassment incident and firmly believes the law will deliver a fair judgment.

However, it appealed to the public and all parties to give the school sufficient time and space to implement campus safety measures and reforms.

The board also urged the public to handle unverified information with care and to avoid spreading rumours that could unintentionally harm innocent students, teachers, or the school’s reputation.

Similar cases in Johor

The incident in Alor Setar comes after multiple allegations of sexual harassment emerged at independent Chinese high schools in Johor last month.

Female students and alumni at the Kulai branch of the Foon Yew High School alleged that a male student had doctored their photos without their consent, in a sexually explicit manner.

Following this, other allegations of sexual misconduct and complaints of the school’s mishandling of such cases have surfaced, involving both the home campus in Johor Bahru and the branch in Kulai.

The principal of the school’s Kulai branch has since resigned.

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