Bigotry in school: ‘Why the foot-dragging?’
By G Vinod, Free Malaysia Today
PETALING JAYA: Both the Public Service Department (PSD) and the police are dilly-dallying in their investigations into the cases of two school principals who insulted their students with racist remarks, Perak DAP vice-chairman A Sivanesan said today.
He also rebuked teachers’ union boss Hashim Adnan and a Malaysian Youth Council (MYC) alumnus for their statements on the issue.
He said he agreed with PSD director-general Abu Bakar Abdullah that only PSD’s disciplinary committee could take action against the two principals, Siti Inshah Mansor of SMK Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, Kulai, Johor, and Ungku Aznan Ungku Ismail of SMK Bukit Selambau, Kedah.
However, he added, “it’s been 45 days” since the first incident. “Why is it taking so long?”
He said the disciplinary committee should have issued show-cause letters to both the principals by now.
Sivanesan, who is Sungkai state assemblyman, used to be a member in the general council of Cuepacs, the civil service union.
He said PSD could investigate the principals for misconduct at the workplace.
He also called on the police to announce the outcome of their investigation into the cases, noting that several people had lodged reports against the alleged culprits.
“The cases can be investigated under the Sedition Act,” he said.
“The police should inform the public of the outcome of the investigation. If they have completed their investigation and sent the report to the Attorney-General, then the latter should explain what his next course of action is.”
Sivanesan criticised Hashim, National Union of Teaching Profession (NUTP) president, for telling DAP that it should not politicise the issue.
