KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 — Several local artists were reportedly shocked by the revelation that an American theatre don who taught here has been accused of repeated sexual abuse in the United States this week.
In a report by English daily The Star, writer and poet Bernice Chauly said she was flabbergasted by the accusations against Rey Buono, who was named in a Boston Global report as having abused at least a dozen underage boys at the prestigious Milton Academy before he came to Asia.
“We are very good friends and these allegations are very serious. As I know, he is a very kind and thoughtful person.
“I don’t know how to react to this,” said Chauly, who teaches creative writing at University of Nottingham Malaysia.
“Sexual abuse is not acceptable at any level. But I can only speak about him as a teacher. He was my mentor and pivotal to my starting a formal education in theatre,” actor Ghafir Akbar was quoted saying.
Meanwhile, academic and writer Malachi Edwin Vethamani had claimed that Buono is seen to be “very principled, conscientious and hardworking”.
Theatre actor Marvin Wong, who has worked with Buono before in 2009, described him as “educational, enriching and completely professional”.
Buono was reportedly sacked in 1987 by Milton Academy, for having admitted to molesting a student, but no further action was taken and he instead continued his career in Asia, including directing theatre plays at Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac).
He also taught in Universiti Putra Malaysia between 1997 and 2002, Sunway University College (2003 to 2006), and Taylor’s University (2011 to 2012).
University officials told Malay Mail Online in a report this morning that no students have complained about his conduct.
