A former pupil, Suriana Mohammad Salleh, now 21, testified that the teacher, Jainal Jamran, had leaked the questions in 2017.
Suriana said that she and her classmate, identified only as Nur Natasha, had told their English teacher, known as “Norhana”, about Jainal’s absence and the examination leak.
However no action was taken, Suriana said.
Suriana is the classmate of the three former pupils, Rusiah Sabdarin, Nur Natasha Allisya Hamali, and Calvina Angayung, who are suing the teacher, Jainal; the headmaster, Suid Hanapi; education officials and the government.
They were former pupils at SMK Tan Gusi.
They seek damages for their poor examination results which they said was a result of his absence. They allege the defendants failed to exercise their duties under the Education Act and had violated their constitutional right to an education.
Another former pupil, Nurul Afirah Zainal Abidin, 20, identified Jainal, better known as “Mr JJ” as their English teacher.
“I remember when he first started teaching he wasn’t very pleasant and was constantly in a foul mood. In other classes he was friendlier,” she said.
“A few months on, we noticed that he would teach accounting at the class next door, but when it was time for our lesson, he would not show up,” she said.
Nurul Afirah also told the court that she and her other classmates had complained about his absence to two other teachers but were advised to “let it be” as they did not want to meddle in Mr JJ’s affairs.
The trial before judge Leonard David Shim will resume on Sept 23, with more witnesses to be called by the plaintiffs.
The plaintiffs are represented by Roxana Jamaludin, Shiren Sikayun, Jubili Anilik and Dominic J Omok, while federal counsel Hafizi Abdul Halim and Fazriel Fardiansyah Abdul Kadir appear for the defendants.
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