"I'm too scared to go to school"

That was the lament of Nur Fatihah Md Lazim, a Form Three student at a school in Pokok Sena, Kedah who claimed she was attacked by bullying seniors till she suffered injuries to her face and swelling on the neck.

Relating the incident, the 15-year-old said around 2.15pm yesterday, she was approached by a group of senior girls while she was walking with her cousin at the school.

“The seniors were crowding around me and one of them slapped and punched me, and pushed me to the ground.

“I was hit on the left side of my face first, I tried to hit back but only managed to hit her here (pointing to her shoulder) as she was tall. She pulled my headscarf and my hair, so I pulled hers.

“I was then kicked and I fell, then the gang surrounded me. There were about seven of them,” Nur Fatihah told reporters at her house today.

She claimed the seniors threatened her to not tell the teachers or her family about the incident.

Nur Fatihah, although scared out of her wits, returned home and related the matter to her elder sister, who then told their mom.

Shocked, Siti Fatimah Yop took her daughter to the Pokok Sena police station to lodge a report.

“When she came home, at first I scolded her, asking why was she late. She said she was in pain, and had a run-in with some friends at school,” said Siti Fatimah.

Subsequently, yesterday evening, the alleged bully came to Nur Fatihah’s house with her family and created a commotion, Siti Fatimah said.

“The family accused us of accusing them in our police report. I told them, I wasn’t accusing anyone of anything, I just wanted to know what transpired in the incident.

“They came into my house and shouted at us. Now, my daughter is traumatised and no longer wants to go to school,” she said.

When spoke to again, Nur Fatihah said she was afraid that the girls might attack her once more.

“That’s why I lodged the police report, for them to not bother me again.

“My head’s in such a mess,” she said as she wiped away tears.

Nur Fatihah has since sought treatment at the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Setar for her wounds.

When contacted, Kota Setar district police chief, ACP Adzaman Mohd Jan said all seven girls have been called to give their statements and released on police bail this morning.

The case is being investigated under Section 323 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt.