Higher Education Minister Mustapa Mohamed will instruct his deputy Ong Tee Keat to stop making public statements over the disclosure that government officers had allegedly misappropriated funds meant for vernacular schools.

"I will meet Ong tonight and instruct him not to let this issue go on, he must stop immediately. If there is a problem, we can discuss behind closed doors," Mustapa told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

The minister said he would also ask his deputy to meet Education Minister Hishamuddin Hussein, who was irked by Ong's disclosure.

Mustapa reiterated that it is a "government principle" that a government leader should not criticise another ministry openly.

Elaborating, he said he would feel equally hurt should another government leader openly criticises his ministry.

Asked why he should apologise to Hishamuddin on behalf of Ong, Mustapa said: "I am his boss, I am the minister and I am responsible. I have built a good rapport (with other ministries) and I don't want that bridge to be destroyed."

Ong to apologise?

He said it was not Hishamuddin who has asked for an apology in yesterday's cabinet meeting but declined comment on whether the matter was brought up by the education minister.

On whether he will ask Ong to personally apologise to Hishamuddin, Mustapa said: "I will meet him (Ong) tonight."

In a statement last night, Mustapa apologised for Ong after the matter was raised in yesterday's weekly cabinet meeting. He also gave his assurance to Hishamuddin that such incidents would not recur.

He also apoloised if Ong's remark had hurt the feelings of officials from the Education Ministry, who were accused of pocketing the funds.

On Saturday, Ong, during a dinner with teachers from a Chinese school in Johor, said government officials had embezzled the special allocation meant for several Chinese schools in the state.

This received prominent coverage in the Chinese media.

On Tuesday, Hishammuddin and Ong locked horns over the issue. Among others, the education minister accused Ong of trying to be a hero for the Chinese community.

Ong, who is also MCA vice-president, criticised Hishammuddin, who is the Umno Youth chief, of playing up racial sentiments.

He also took the minister to task for launching a personal attack instead of focusing on the allegation.