KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 – The Kedah principal who had allegedly uttered racist remarks to 10 students at a school in Bukit Selambau near Sungai Petani last week has apologised to their parents.
Kedah Education Department director Shahidan Abdul Rahman said today that the apology was made when the principal met the parents on Sunday.
Shahidan also refuted reports made in a Chinese newspaper that the principal had been transferred following the incident.
“Investigations are still ongoing and the principal is still working at the school,” he said.
The principal had been accused of racism for allegedly telling her Chinese pupils to “return to China”.
The Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bukit Selambau head allegedly accused the Chinese pupils of being insensitive towards their Muslim peers by eating in the school compound during the fasting month of Ramadan last Friday, and ordered them to return to China if they could not respect the culture of other races.
Merbok MCA division secretary Chow Kok Leong, who received complaints from the parents, had claimed that the principal had also made similar remarks during the school’s morning assembly the next day.
There are about 80 non-Malay students at the school, which has an enrolment of 780.
But investigations are still pending for Johor principal Siti Inshah Mansor for a similar offence.
Last week, Siti sparked national outrage when her allegedly racist remarks were reported, following a failed initial attempt by the Education Ministry to placate parents.
The SMK Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra principal had reportedly made the derogatory remarks during the launch of the school’s Merdeka celebrations.
“Chinese students are not needed here and can return to China or Foon Yew schools. For the Indian students, the prayer string tied around their neck and wrist makes them look like dogs because only dogs are tied like that,” Siti Inshah was quoted as saying in at least one police report.
The police are currently investigating the case under Section 504 of the Penal Code for provocation, which carries a maximum imprisonment of two years, a fine, or both.
A total of 20 complaints have been lodged with the authorities.
On Friday, Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin also directed Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom to set up a committee to investigate the matter.
Alimuddin had earlier said it was a misunderstanding that had already been resolved.
Kedah Education Department director Shahidan Abdul Rahman said today that the apology was made when the principal met the parents on Sunday.
Shahidan also refuted reports made in a Chinese newspaper that the principal had been transferred following the incident.
“Investigations are still ongoing and the principal is still working at the school,” he said.
The principal had been accused of racism for allegedly telling her Chinese pupils to “return to China”.
The Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bukit Selambau head allegedly accused the Chinese pupils of being insensitive towards their Muslim peers by eating in the school compound during the fasting month of Ramadan last Friday, and ordered them to return to China if they could not respect the culture of other races.
Merbok MCA division secretary Chow Kok Leong, who received complaints from the parents, had claimed that the principal had also made similar remarks during the school’s morning assembly the next day.
There are about 80 non-Malay students at the school, which has an enrolment of 780.
But investigations are still pending for Johor principal Siti Inshah Mansor for a similar offence.
Last week, Siti sparked national outrage when her allegedly racist remarks were reported, following a failed initial attempt by the Education Ministry to placate parents.
The SMK Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra principal had reportedly made the derogatory remarks during the launch of the school’s Merdeka celebrations.
“Chinese students are not needed here and can return to China or Foon Yew schools. For the Indian students, the prayer string tied around their neck and wrist makes them look like dogs because only dogs are tied like that,” Siti Inshah was quoted as saying in at least one police report.
The police are currently investigating the case under Section 504 of the Penal Code for provocation, which carries a maximum imprisonment of two years, a fine, or both.
A total of 20 complaints have been lodged with the authorities.
On Friday, Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin also directed Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom to set up a committee to investigate the matter.
Alimuddin had earlier said it was a misunderstanding that had already been resolved.
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