Malaysia dumped a plan to allow mobile phones in schools after the move sparked an outcry from both teachers and parents.

"I have decided to withdraw the permission to use handphones in schools," Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.

"There were a lot of concerns from many people and from teachers to ensure the guidelines on the use of handphones will be followed," he said, using the Malaysian term for mobiles.

The Education Ministry announced last week it would allow mobile phones in schools, citing requests from parents who wanted to keep in touch with their children and ensure their safety.

Use of the phones was only to be allowed outside of classrooms and class hours, and school authorities would be authorized to seize the handsets of students who flouted the rules.

Imagine the chaos

But the decision prompted a hail of protests, with educators and the general public including some parents saying the phones would cause discipline problems and highlight the disparity in wealth between students.

"Just imagine the chaos that is going to ensue," wrote one enraged reader in the New Straits Times daily on Thursday.

"The handphones are for the haves, but what about the have-nots? What do you expect the children to do?"