RAWANG: The Parent-Teachers’ Association of SMK Seri Garing has denied allegations of criminal activities in the school and wants the Education Ministry to investigate teachers who provided “inaccurate information” to the media.
Association chairman Chin Wan Cheong said the school was not the only one with problems, so it was misleading to label it a “school of terror”.
“We are not denying that there are disciplinary problems among some students but they are not as bad as they are being portrayed by the media,” he said.
“In fact, we are one of the secondary schools in Gombak district with minimum disciplinary problems and the best school in extra-curricular activities like sports,” he told a press conference yesterday.
Chin said there was no evidence of gangsterism, drug dealing, alcohol consumption or even the rape case reported recently that happened in the school.
“All the reports have hurt and humiliated teachers, parents and students,” he said, adding that some of the parents were anxious and had lost their trust in the teachers.
Majlis Permuafakat PIBG Rawang (joint PTA of Rawang schools) chairman Mohamed Saufi Shafie said the associations wanted justice and were not pointing fingers at anyone.
He said it was sad to read some news reports on the problems which quoted schoolteachers.
“We hope the ministry will investigate the allegations by the teachers and help the school to correct the untrue information,” he added.
Mohamed Saufi said the school never stopped anyone from reporting wrongdoings to the police or other authorities.
There have been three police cases so far – a student fight, a break-in and a rape case – which were still under investigation, he said.
Former PTA chairman of SMK Seri Garing V. Subramaniam said there was no gangsterism in the school in the last seven years when he was PTA chairman until February.
“It is a blessing to have media attention but being labelled as a ‘school of terror’ linked with gangsterism, rape and molest is definitely upsetting.”
PTA committee member Villalan Ramasamy said the parents and teachers had always worked very closely with the school and students.
“They are all our children and we always have a lot of activities to ensure their safety and well-being.”
On May 25, The Star highlighted rampant illegal activities in the school including triad activities, sex crimes, extortion, drug distribution and alcoholism.
Students, teachers, parents and residents of Taman Seri Rawang and Taman Garing Jaya were said to be living in fear of school bullies and did not report them for fear of reprisals.
