SARAWAK politicians are piling the pressure on the police to swiftly apprehend a school teacher who is now on the run after two schoolgirls from a secondary school in Sebauh, Bintulu, accused him sexually molesting or raping them.

Bandar Kuching MP Kelvin Yii and the state’s Women, Childhood and Community Well-being Development Minister Fatimah Abdullah are the latest to join the chorus calling on the cops and “to step up their efforts” to bring the teacher – originally from Kelantan – to justice.

Yii, who said the case “is matter of public interest” and a really serious issue, had called on the police to update the public on the progress of their efforts to track down and arrest the teacher while Fatimah called for a “thorough investigation” to determine if the alleged crime is a case of statutory rape and/or sexual offences against children.

The schoolgirls are a pair of 14-year-olds Kayans, a minority ethnic group.

Yii said it has been more than five days since the alleged rape was made public by Bintulu MP Tiong King Sing, and “so far we have not heard news of the suspect”.

He said the police could at least disclose if the teacher had left, or is still in the state, since everyone, including Sarawak citizens, have to pass through Immigration on entering or leaving the state.

“Since Sarawak has Immigration autonomy, I am sure the Immigration Department has records on when he left Sarawak and where he was heading,” he added.

Yii said the police could “even monitor his bank transactions to determine his whereabouts or even get a court order to freeze his accounts to flush him out faster”.

“The suspect must be tracked down and arrested as soon as possible to ensure justice for the victims and victims’ family.

“Any longer this drags on, it will give the wrong impression and be perceived as delayed justice for the victims and the family.”

The DAP lawmaker said the incident could affect the confidence of parents sending their children to such schools if they feel that the young ones are are not fully protected.

Fatimah said her ministry is ready to help girls get through the mental trauma of being raped.

Tiong, in a posting on his Facebook account of the alleged rapes in his constituency, claimed the teacher, whose home town is Tumpat, had left the state and called on police nationwide to make an “earnest effort” to track and apprehend him as quickly as possible.

He said he was made to understand that the teacher was called up by the police for a statement to be taken when the first victim lodged her report.

Tiong stated that the teacher denied the accusation and instead accused the student of making a false report.

The teacher was reportedly released on police bail.

When the police called him in after a second student lodged a report that she was fondled by the teacher in the school’s music room, he was nowhere to be found.

The police then appealed for the public to offer information on his whereabouts.

A “wanted person” poster has also been issued. – August 17, 2022.