Deputy Education Minister II P Kamalanathan was reportedly punched in the neck by a teacher who had been upset that the politician could not assist in transferring the teacher from a post in Johor to Selangor.

According to the BN Backbenchers Council's official website, the incident happened yesterday afternoon at his office in Hulu Selangor.

Kamalanathan, in his police report over the incident, said that the teacher met him with a group of other youths after a previous meeting involving the teacher's father-in-law earlier that day.

The teacher and his father-in-law had met the deputy minister, who is also Hulu Selangor MP, to ask for help to be transferred to a school in the constituency.

However, Kamalanathan had told the man he can only issue a support letter but cannot guarantee a transfer as the man teaches English and English teachers usually do not get transferred easily.

The website said that Kuala Kubu Baru police confirmed receiving the report.

Meanwhile, The Star Online reported that the deputy minister admitted lodging a report but declined to comment on the matter.

According to the portal, Kamalanathan was actually assaulted by the teacher’s father, who is a high-ranking member of the Hulu Selangor Umno branch.

Police are “on the lookout for the suspect” who is being investigated under Section 323 of the Penal Code, it reported.

The MIC leader had also lodged a police report last year over a death threat he received via a mobile text message.