The headmaster of a primary school in Kedah has apologised over the screening of a violence-ridden Tamil movie for its pupils.

According to Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang, the headmaster of SK Taman Hi-Tech in Kulim admitted that showing the movie titled Pokiri (thug) was a mistake.

Last week, Lim highlighted a complaint from a parent who said the movie contained sensual and violent scenes and urged the Education Ministry to take action.

In a letter to the opposition leader, parent G Vimaleson, whose daughter is a standard one pupil in the school, expressed anger with the school authorities for screening the movie.

According to him, some 60 non-Malay pupils in standard one to six were shown the movie on April 18 and 19.

"The Malay students had a special activity on those days and non-Malay students were gathered in a classroom to watch the movie.

"I don't watch this type of movies at home and I don't allow my children to watch them as well," he said, asking if the school was trying to instill violent and immoral traits in its pupils.

Not suitable

Lim said he received an e-mail from Vimaleson yesterday informing him that the headmaster had tendered an apology.

"The HM (headmaster) agreed that the movie was not suitable to be shown in school. He truly regretted that it (the incident) happened.

"The HM said the movie was brought by a standard five pupil and played by the teachers," read the email.

Lim commended Vimaleson for his public-spiritedness and the support he had received from other parents to bring a satisfactory conclusion to the controversy.

"It is also a demonstration that parents cared enough about their children's education and upbringing in school as to take a keen interest as to what is going on in school - a most commendable attitude which should be emulated by every parent in the country.

"Let Vimaleson also be an example to all Malaysians that they must speak up when there is anything wrong or amiss in order to rectify them instead of suffering in silence," he said.