Another teacher tells students to 'balik Cina, India'

In what sounds like a repeat of recent incidents, a teacher in a secondary school in Semenyih, Selangor, is alleged to have told students refusing to sing and respect the national anthem to "go back to India (or) China". 

According to Sin Chew Daily, the assistant principal of SMK Engku Husain said during the afternoon session weekly assembly on Sept 23 that the students could "go back" if they do not like Malaysia.

The daily reported that the school was already investigating the matter, which came to the principal's attention when ethnic Chinese students posted about it on their Facebook pages.

Principal Abdul Ghafar Kunchi Mohd (right) told Sin Chew that the students, some of whom do not understand Bahasa Malaysia well, have previously been advised, warned and even caned for not singing or respecting the 'Negaraku', but to no avail.

Assistant principal to be told to explain

Ghafar said this could have been the reason the assistant principal had lost patience and uttered those remarks, but he would ask her to explain when she returns from a course tomorrow. 

"However, no matter Malay, Chinese or Indian, everyone is Malaysian. This remark should not have been uttered. Therefore I will ask the assistant principal to apologise to students at the assembly," he is quoted as saying. 

The daily also quoted Deputy Education Minister P Kamalanathan as saying that the ministry would investigate the case, as students should not be subjected to such inappropriate remarks.

Last month, a school principal in a school in Shah Alam apologised to her students for telling them to "go back to India, China or Indonesia" if they do not want to respect the national anthem.