The ruckus involving a school headmistress allegedly uttering racial slurs is still far from being resolved according to the Education Ministry.

Its Deputy Minister, Wee Ka Siong (photo), said tersely: "The education director-general has a duty to investigate this matter since there are several police reports and a report with the state education department."

NONEThis had contradicted what the education DG had previously said, claiming that the matter has been settled.

"There is no change, the issue was only a misunderstanding and the problem has been solved between the principal and students," he was reported to have said in a news portal.

It was previously reported that several police reports have been made against a the principal when she made derogatory remarks against Chinese and Indians in a school function in Kulai, Johor.

According to the police reports, she had allegedly said that the "Chinese students can return to China" and likened to the Hindu prayer bracelets to a dog leash during the launch of the school's Merdeka celebrations.

Wee was known to have taken a harsher approach to the issue, calling her remarks "inappropriate" on his Twitter page.

"The principal is on leave now. She has to face the probe by police. She did apologise to students. Regarding her position, she will know her fate soon. Not appropriate for principal to pass those remarks. (We) should be sensitive living in a multiracial society," he posted on his Twitter account yesterday in reply to Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua.

Circular rubbished

At the meantime, Wee also rubbished the circular at a teacher's training institute barring students of different genders being in the same car or motorcycle.

"I have checked with the director in charge of teacher's training department, and he said that no such policy was made in the headquarters in Putrajaya.

"This is not the ministry's policy, and I have asked the director to take action on this. We have never issued this kind of order," said Wee.

NONEHowever, he refused to elaborate on what 'action' would be taken, saying that it is up to the director.

"When the government encourage kids to carpool, to save energy, it is not supposed to be a gender-biased policy, you know," he said.

When pointed out that director of the institute Mazlan Mohamad had himself said that it is to prevent "social ills such as baby dumping", Wee said that issuing that kind of circular was not the way to go.

"Maksiat (vice) can be prevented with other ways.

"If two people are together in the car, you cannot immediately suspect them of such activities. You cannot jump the gun. Imagine, if a girl is having lunch with a boy, are they then committing maksiat?

"If you really want to target those who commit maksiat, then you have to give a stern warning to those who tarnish the image of the institution," he said.

It was previously reported that the circular dated Aug 10 prohibits couples from riding in cars and motorcycles berdua-duaan on and off campus in Tengku Ampuan Afzan Teachers' Training Institute (IPG) in Kuala Lipis, Pahang.

However, Mazlan had stressed that those found violating the directive would not be punished in any form.

The only action taken would be to counsel the people involved if there has been many complaints about their behaviour.