A primary school teacher's bizarre attempt to track down a missing handphone has led to a demand for the police to investigate him for ‘criminal intimidation'.

NONE Lawyer A Sivanesan ( right ) said the discipline teacher at a school in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, had forced all 300 students to drink air jampi - water over which a spell has been cast.

This happened after another teacher lost her handphone the previous day.

"He held their chins and made them drink the water from a mineral water bottle while whispering ‘bismillah' . Thereafter he told them that they will cough up blood if they do not return the handphone," Sivanesan told reporters at his law office in Brickfields today.

"At the next school assembly on Aug 2, the teacher threatened the students and warned them not to complain to their parents about being forced to drink the water ."

NONE However, the aunt of a student, R Mary, lodged a police report on Aug 17 at the Sentul police station, after being given the runaround when she tried to see the principal.

"We have asked that the teacher to be investigated under Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminally intimidating the students," said Sivanesan, who is representing the complainant.

Apology made, but ...

Today, school principal Abdul Karim Mat Asil called Sivanesan to apologise for the incident.

"He said he had been on holiday when it took place. But he apologised and assured us that it will not be repeated. He also said the students who had complained will not be victimised."

NONE Although the school is conducting an inquiry, Sivanesan said the police report will not be withdrawn because the complainant wants action against the teacher.

The situation comes in the wake of two incidents allegedly involving race-based abuse in schools.

"You've seen that a police report was made against the headmistress in Kulai , but that no action has been taken. (If nothing is done) people will continue to act like this," he said.