KOTA KINABALU – An English teacher once sued by a former student of SMK Taun Gusi for refusing to teach Form Four English for several months back in 2015, stunned the courtroom when it was revealed he had received the Excellence Service Award (APC) in 2023.
The revelation came during the ongoing trial of Siti Nafirah Siman, 26, against Mohd Jainal Jamrin (JJ), 53, along with the school principal Suid Hj Hanapi, SMK Taun Gusi, the Kota Belud District Education Officer, the State Education Director, the Director General of Education, the Education Minister and the Federal Government.
Court notes provided by the “Tiada Guru” team showed JJ admitted to counsel Shireen Sikayun that he received the APC in September 2023 — just two months after the High Court ruled in favour of three former students who had also sued him for prolonged absenteeism.
JJ insisted the award was for his 2022 performance, but conceded that no disciplinary action has been taken against him despite the July 2023 court findings. He claimed he is still waiting for action to be taken.
In a dramatic turn, JJ also agreed he had threatened to kill two teachers — Cikgu Nurhaizah and ETA Ibrahim — during a district education meeting in August 2015, saying he did so “out of anger.” He admitted it was a threat but added, “They are still alive today.”
JJ further admitted he had no documentary evidence to prove full-year attendance, despite earlier testimony claiming otherwise.
The trial continues July 14 via Zoom before High Court Judge Datuk Ismail Brahim, with Senior Federal Counsel Jesseca Daimis representing the defendants.
In her suit, Siti Nafirah seeks declarations that the defendants breached their statutory duty under the Education Act by failing to ensure she was taught English between February and October 2015, failed to prepare her for examinations, and violated her constitutional right to education under Articles 5 and 12 of the Federal Constitution.
She is also seeking damages, costs, and other relief deemed fit by the court. – July 10, 2026