'Principal admits to making balik India, China jibe'

The principal of SMK Alam Megah in Shah Alam is said to have admitted that she told Indian and Chinese students to 'return to India and China' during a school assembly two days ago.

In saying this today, Shah Alam MIC deputy division chief A Prakash Rao (left) said the principal has apologised for her remarks, while also claiming she had told Malay students to 'return to Indonesia'.

"She has promised to meet the students at an assembly on Friday to apologise to them," Prakash said after meeting the principal and other school officials for nearly an hour this morning.

The principal apparently made the remarks because students were being noisy while the national anthem was being sung.

"She said that she shouldn't have made those remarks and that it was in the heat of the moment," Prakash said.

Malaysiakini was unable to verify Prakash’s claims because the principal has declined to meet with the media or to comment on the issue.

In spite of the apology, Prakash urged the Education Ministry to take the "necessary action" against the principal.

Deputy Education Minister II P Kamalanathan had earlier said that action will be taken if the matter is proven true.

Prakash revealed that district education officials have already visited the school to investigate the complaint.

"Three officials were here yesterday and another two are here today," he said.

‘Transfer or dismiss her’

Tamil Youth Club of Malaysia president K Murali had a clearer suggestion as to the action that should be taken.

"It's either a transfer or a dismissal. Nothing less," he said, after accompanying Prakash into the school.

Several parents who were outside, waiting for the outcome of Prakash's meeting, have disputed the principal’s "go back to Indonesia" claim.

"That's a lie. That's not true at all. I have spoken to my daughter and the (principal) only referred to Indians and Chinese students," said N Rajeas Rao (left).

"If students were making noise, I wouldn't mind if she caned all of them or made them run around the field. The Malay students too might have made noise during the assembly.”

K Ravichandran said the rules must apply to all students regardless of race and he made it clear that an apology alone will not be sufficient.

"If I said something bad to a country leader, would I be let off the hook if I just say ‘sorry’? Then it should apply to everyone," he noted.

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