Deputy Education Minister Mohd Puad Zarkashi has confirmed that no action can be taken against a teacher who slapped four non-Muslim Orang Asli pupils in Kelantan, pending the outcome of a probe by the police.

NONE He said today that his ministry will only issue its directive to the Kelantan Education Department on action to be taken, after it receives the police investigation report.

“I’ve been informed that this has become a police case... we will leave it to the police to investigate and we will depend on the report to take action,” he told reporters after officiating an event at the International Islamic University Malaysia.

“I am certain the ministry has already formed its own committee to investigate the matter, however, as it has become a police case, we will await their findings first,” he said.

Puad, who is also the Batu Pahat MP, also advised teachers not to get emotional and resolve any issues with care.

“Teachers should abide by the ministry's circulars. We cannot be emotional and use physical force to hurt a pupil. We have proper procedures, including if we want to cane a pupil, there is a procedure. We would not compromise if this truly happened,” he said.

NONE "I am taking this opportunity to also say that if possible, this matter can be settled amicably. Teachers also have their own burden. Sometimes, they face pressures. And sometimes, they become emotional and resort to such action. As a result, the ministry is being attacked as there are various issues. My advise to teachers (is) do not be emotional,” said the deputy minister.

Education Dept: Letter probably on the way

In October, the fathers of the children affected had lodged a police report against a teacher at SK Bihai in Pos Bihai, near Gua Musang. In it, they claimed that she had slapped them because they did not recite the doa (prayer) after having their lunch.

Officers from the Education Department and Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) have since issued a verbal apology to the parents.

mca youth agm 201012 wee ka siong 03 Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong ( left ) had announced on Nov 8 that action would be taken against the teacher.

On Dec 14, Wee said that the matter had been transferred to the state education department and that he is confident that it will investigate the complaint.

However, the Kelantan Education Department said yesterday that it is awaiting written instructions from the ministry, on the action to be taken in this case.

Its director Hussein Awang said a letter containing the directive could be on its way and that it had already sent the results of its probe to the ministry three weeks ago.

On Dec 2, the fathers of the children had lodged a second police report against the teacher and three of her colleagues for " offering them money " on Nov 7 to withdraw their first report.

This allegation is being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.