SEREMBAN: The father of a Year One pupil in Rembau has forgiven the teacher who locked his son in a makeshift cage to discipline him.
Rembau police chief Deputy Supt Hazri Mohamad said a meeting was held at the school on Wednesday (June 28) and the issue, which went viral on social media, had been resolved.
"Present at the meeting were representatives from the district Education Department, the school and the victim's family.
"The father accepted the teacher's explanation and has forgiven him," he said in a statement.
DSP Hazri said in the incident, which happened at around 8.30am on Tuesday (June 27), the 43-year-old teacher punished the boy by locking him up in an enclosure which was actually an exhibition area for the school's Drug Prevention Society.
He said police did not receive any report on the matter.
ALSO READ: Teacher locks up Year One pupil in makeshift metal cage, parents upset
DSP Hazri also hoped that the public would not share or forward unverified reports or stories that could cause unnecessary problems.
On Tuesday, a father who wished to be identified only as Azuan alleged that his son's school had locked primary pupils in a makeshift metal cage.
The 30-year-old told mStar that in the latest incident, a Year One child was allegedly locked in the cage because of bad behaviour.
"In the WhatsApp group (with parents and teachers), we were informed that the child was playing in class. He would not keep quiet and kept disturbing his friends by pulling their pants," he told mStar.
Azuan also included screenshots of the WhatsApp group conversation between a parent and teachers from the school.
A teacher had apparently admitted putting the seven-year-old boy in the cage to isolate him from his classmates.
Netizens roundly criticised the teacher.
Many were aghast at the manner in which the boy was disciplined, and asked the Education Ministry to act.
They felt that children should not be punished in such a manner no matter how mischievous they were as the experience was traumatising.
On social media, a man identified as Mohd Fazli said as a parent, he could not accept what the teacher had done.
Qis D said the experience of being locked up may leave the child emotionally scarred for life.
"Teachers these days are hard core. Come on, (the pupil) is only in Year One," said Afzan Abd.
Another user, Lea, described the teacher as a bully.
However, there were those who felt that the teacher's side of the story should be heard first.
One said that teachers may be forced to take such action.
"There have also been cases where some parents refuse to accept the fact their children have special needs (and) are extremely difficult to control," he said.
Maizatul said the authorities should probe the matter before criticising the teacher.
Her sentiments were shared by Ekin who felt that some teachers disciplined their charges as they cared for them.
