Z
Zhu Rong
Guest
Monday September 6, 2010
Teen love turns to terror
By ANDREW SAGAYAM
[email protected]
KLANG: Hell has no fury like a woman scorned, especially if the woman’s mother is a teacher in your school. A straight A’s student has found that out in a very painful way. The teeenager claims he has been constantly hounded by the vengeful and fiendish school teacher, after he broke up with her daughter last year.
Pushed to the brink: Abel showing the police report to the pressmen.
The woman allegedly went to the extent of getting members of the school’s basketball team to beat him up, leaving him in the intensive care ward for two days. Going further, the discipline teacher also got some students to post threats on Facebook that they would hire foreigners to chop off his legs.
This “High School” drama started last year when Fourth Former Abel Ong, 16, of SM Batu Unjur here and his teen lover decided to stop dating and concentrate on their studies. That saw the beginning of a series of harassments, bullying and assaults for the young man, one of his school’s pelajar cemerlang.
His mum, Sally Lee, 50, a human resources manager, said when her son was going steady with the girl, the mother was caring towards Abel. “She often sent Abel home after school and would also take him out and give him treats. The teacher, on many occassions, also invited our family for dinner and even for holidays.
“But once my son broke up with her daughter, she began harassing us with constant phone calls demanding that Abel and her daughter get back together. “I disapproved and reasoned that they were still young. But the teacher was adamant and started to spread rumours that my son is a playboy,” said Lee.
In April, members of the school’s basketball team are said to have repeatedly assaulted Abel near the school entrance. He suffered multiple head and body injuries. “My parents have lodged two police reports and several complaints to the school, but until today no action has been taken,” said Abel.
“I tried to avoid the teacher but she gave me so many demerit points by accusing me of being indisciplined in school and got me suspended for three days last year. “I don’t even eat at the school canteen for fear that I would meet those who assaulted me,” he added. He claimed that he and his girlfriend parted ways amicably and they were still on good terms.
His parents, he said, are trying to get him transferred out to another school. Abel’s father, real estate agent Robbin Ong, 51, is shocked that neither the school authorities nor the police are doing anything. “Are they waiting for something worse to happen to my son?” he asked. “Do they want another Penang incident on their hands? (A 16-year-old schoolboy slit the throat of a 13-year-old schoolmate in Bayan Baru last month).
“They beat Abel up right in front of the school and the police say they are still investigating.” A teacher who wished not to be named described Abel as a good student and well disciplined. “I have been teaching him since he was in Form One and I never had any problem with him. “I am aware of the situation and the teachers, and I believe it is fueled by something personal,” she said.
