Kota Kinabalu: A teacher from SMKA Tun Datu Mustapha, where Zara Qairina Mahathir had studied, said she learned the definition of bullying every day through Sabah FM.
Nur Asimah Zaiton, the 55th deponent, who continued her testimony on Tuesday, said she heard about the definition of bullying on Sabah FM when its DJ talked about it on air.
She was responding to questions from counsel Shahlan Jufri regarding the definition of bullying during Zara’s inquest.
Asimah: I hear about the definition of bullying every day on Sabah FM. So the word ‘repeated’ was mentioned by the Sabah FM DJ, or the Sabah FM broadcast, sir.
Shahlan: As a warden, what is your understanding of bullying?
Asimah: Bullying is an act or words intended to hurt someone repeatedly.
Shahlan: What do you mean by repeatedly?
Asimah: It doesn’t happen just once. It means it occurs many times over a certain period. It can recur monthly or even yearly.
Shahlan: Okay, based on your answer, if I slap your daughter once, does that mean it is not bullying?
Asimah: No.
Shahlan: So you mean I must slap your daughter 10 or 20 times repeatedly before it is considered bullying?
Asimah: Correct.
Shahlan: If I slap your daughter once, that is not bullying?
Asimah: The concept of ‘repetition’ was mentioned by the DJ on Sabah FM.
Shahlan: So your definition of bullying refers to the radio station, not the SOP issued by the Ministry of Education (KPM)?
Asimah: Is Sabah FM wrong in giving that definition?
Shahlan: Between the KPM guidelines and Sabah FM, which should you follow?
Asimah: Both.
Shahlan: So if I step on your child at school once, will you say: ‘Son, that’s not bullying because it didn’t happen repeatedly. Don’t worry, continue going to school.’ Is that correct?
Asimah: That is indeed not bullying. But I will take action by lodging a report with the school so that the act is not repeated.
Shahlan: If it’s not bullying, why make a report?
Asimah: Stepping on someone is not a good act. Should we just ignore it?
Shahlan: But you said bullying is an act that hurts someone repeatedly. I only stepped on your child once.
Asimah: As I said, that is not bullying.
She further testified that the she together with administrator of the school had visited Zara’s mother on July 22.
“The purpose of the visit was to ‘menyantuni’ Zara’s mother and to convey an apology from the school.
“Next was to provide feedback regarding Zara’s mother request for a copy of the police report made by Ustaz Azhari.
“So, throughout our meeting with Zahra’s mother at the house, only the principal, the Senior Assistant for Student Affairs and Ustaz Azhari spoke.
“Most of the discussion was about the copy of the report but as I recall, Ustaz Azhari stated that the report had been submitted to the Kepayan Police Station,” said Asimah.
She told the coroner that she was not sure whether the school had briefed Zara’s mother about what had happened before Zara was found unconscious on the grounds of the hostel.
Asimah also said that she was not sure whether the principal told Zara’s mother that the incident was a police case.
To a question about the contribution of RM600 from the school, Asimah said she does not know the exact amount.
