S’wak minister urges MoE for compassion in teacher transfer requests amid personal crisis

MIRI (Oct 25): Bona fide requests for transfer by teachers from outside Sarawak under extenuating circumstances should be accepted by the Ministry of Education (MoE) to avoid causing unnecessary anguish and mental suffering.

In stating this, Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said pragmatism and empathy should be the overriding consideration in handling cases such as that of a depressed teacher from Peninsular Malaysia requesting for transfer out of Sarawak to be with his wife who is seriously ill, which was highlighted on social and mainstream media recently.

“Inter-state transfer lies under MoE’s jurisdiction. I believe this is his first posting, and being a new teacher thus is not entitled yet for a transfer.

“On the other hand and on humanitarian grounds, the teacher can be considered for temporary posting so he can be with his cancer stricken wife,” she said.

MoE has decided to grant Mohammad Izzuddin Izhar, 34, also known as Cikgu Din, leave to be with his wife who is currently battling cartilage cancer.

In a statement on Thursday, the Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Ministry assured that it will be meeting Cikgu Din to discuss his welfare and other related matters following the greenlight for his application which was initially not entertained.

Cikgu Din was reported to have to endure sleepless nights at being unable to be with his wife during her most trying times when his application for transfer was yet to be approved.

He was told by an officer that he needed to hold a permanent employment status for 36 months before he is eligible for such transfer.