A primary school in Malacca had spurred tension among parents after the school had accidently supplied beef burgers to students of Hindu and Buddhist faith during its Children's Day celebration on Nov 7.

st francis institute melaka beef burger issue 111108 02 Police Watch and Human Rights Committee coordinator S Jayathas ( photo, with tie ) said SK St Francis was "insensitive to the needs and prohibition of people of various religions".

"The incident is an embarrassing situation for the school," he said in a statement.

The school has a population of approximately 700 students consisting about 293 Chinese, 191 Indians, 165 Malays and 68 Portuguese-Eurasians.

The incident was believed to have occurred during a ‘burger eating' competition on the Children's Day celebration which was participated by all students.

The school had apparently ordered a mix of chicken, beef and vegetarian burgers for the competition but there was a mix up which saw Hindu and Buddhist students consuming beef-based burgers.

However the principal of the school, Koh Lian Swee, had declined to comment on the matter when contacted by Malaysiakini .

‘Teachers not sensitive'

According to Jayathas, the principal had apologised for the mix-up of the burgers and to parents of the children who had consumed the burgers unknowingly.

Nevertheless, it showed that the related ministry and the government do not have clear guidelines to ensure sensitivities of other religions except Islam, he said.

"This is the reason why teachers and other employees are not sentient to the needs of other non-Islam students.

st francis institute melaka beef burger issue 111108 01 "Although it is clear it wasn't done on purpose but there is lack of proper directives on the prohibitions of other religions... and we have reason to believe that this is not the first time this has happened occurred.

"And it will continue to happen in others schools and institutions until the government comes up with guidelines on this matter," said Jayathas.

In a multiracial country and in schools with students of other races, teachers should be more understanding to restriction of students of other faith, said Jayathas, who had visited the school with the parents of affected children yesterday. Also present at the meeting was Malacca PKR deputy chief Yusof Abdullah.

"We don't want this to become a norm in schools as it is the best place to educate and shape the future the generation in understanding and respecting other religions," he added.