Apology tendered over 'balik Cina, India' remark

The assistant principal of SMK Engku Husain has reportedly apologised for telling his students to "go back to China and India".

Quoting an anonymous staff member, Sin Chew Daily said the apology was tendered during a meeting with the parent-teacher association yesterday afternoon.

The staff member was quoted as saying that the issue was now considered resolved.

Sin Chew further claimed that representatives from the district education department had also visited the school yesterday.

It was reported that the assistant principal made the remark during the afternoon assembly session on Sept 23.

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

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

Various quarters have urged stern action, such as a suspension or sacking, to be taken against teachers who utter such remarks in order to serve as a deterrent.