The Port Dickson district education department is investigating a claim where a Form Two student, whose identity card states he is a Muslim, was forced to file a police report against his Hindu father.

"We already visited the school. We are now waiting for a report from the teachers on the matter to be forwarded to the Negri Sembilan Education Department," said an officer who declined to be named.

The officer also pointed out that there are conflicting claims by the teachers and the boy's father, S Ganesan.

"The teachers have denied forcing the boy to drink 'air penawar'," he told Malaysiakini.

In a police report lodged on Feb 17, Ganesan (left) claimed that his son Thiyaggurudeen was taken to an Islamic centre by two Muslim teachers, who then forced him to drink 'air penawar' before signing a police report against his father.

'Air penawar' is a type of water which is prayed on the body and said to possess healing properties.

The teachers had purportedly accused Ganesan of physically abusing his son for the past three years and trying to change the boy’s religious status.

Contacted later, the school headmistress refused to comment on the matter, saying that she is a government servant and therefore unable to make statements.

Thiyaggurudeen’s mother is an Indonesian Muslim. The father was once a Muslim but was successful with his apostasy application in 1987, along with his first wife and three children.

Ganesan had applied to the Syariah Court to change his son's religion but was told that he needed to wait until the boy turns 18.