The MCA is dissatisfied that the principal of a secondary school in Kedah has not been penalised for uttering racial slurs against his non-Malay students during Ramadan.

chua soi lek dinner at penang 260310 alor setar division chief chong itt chew MCA state chief Chong Itt Chew ( right ) said if the principal, Ungku Aznan Ungku Ismail, was not transferred out, the party may organise a protest in front of the school.

Chong said the parents of the affected students had requested that the education department relocate the principal of SMK Bukit Selambau (SMKBS), Sungai Petani, as soon as possible.

"We will give the authorities some time but we will not rule out more drastic measures such as holding protests outside the school gate," he said.

However, he was unable to confirm when the protest would take place.

State MCA secretary Yong Pau Chak said he was still monitoring the situation, saying he needed to confirm whether Ungku Aznan had really gone back to school after the Aidilfitri holidays.

"Our (MCA) position remains unchanged, the principal should be transferred and face punishment. If it is proven that he had remained in the same school, we need to follow it up," he added.

Respect the wishes of parents

Meanwhile, Chong urged Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong to respect the wishes of the parents whose children were affected by the principal's remarks.

It is learnt that the principal has gone back to school to attend weekly meetings but did not make any further controversial remarks during assembly, which were attended by the school's assistant principals and teachers.

He had reportedly apologised to a group of students during a special meeting at the school, a few days after the incident.

However, Chong insisted that the apology was welcomed but the principal's "mistakes" should receive the appropriate punishment.

Malaysiakini failed to contact Kedah Education director Shahidan Abd Rahman, as the former was in a meeting.

State Education deputy director Abdullah Saad was also not available as he was out conducting inspections.

In early September, Malaysiakini reported that Ungku Aznan, although "temporarily suspended" , has instead been reassigned to an office in the district education office at Kuala Muda/Yan, Sungai Petani, for a week.

Ungku Aznan will have to stay away from the school for that period, but was unsure whether this arrangement was temporary, revealed a state education department source.

It is speculated that the move was aimed at keeping the principal away from the press and politicians while his case is being investigated and to allow the situation at the school to cool down.

The principal of the boys' secondary school was earlier expected to be transferred by Sept 1 on the insistence of the local Chinese community, MCA and state Gerakan.

Ungku Aznan had caused a national outcry when, angered by the sight of Chinese students having breakfast at the school canteen during fasting period, had during the next morning assembly publicly called them "disrespectful" and suggested that "they should go back to China".