Malay Chinese chief says principal should go for counselling for non-Malay racist remark

Petaling Jaya (Malaysia), Aug.17 (ANI): The Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) has demanded that the school principal who had racially described her non-Malay and Malay Indian students as Penumpang (passengers) in the country ought to be given a desk job and receive counselling.

Party president Dr.Chua Soi Lek said the principal's racist remark should be seen as a direct challenge to the basic right of multi-ethnic Malaysians.

"We (MCA) are sad and shocked by the remark and view it very seriously, more so when it happened in a school," The Star quoted Dr. Chua, who is also Johor MCA chief, as saying.

He said transferring the principal was not a solution, as it would only shift the problem to another school.

The principal was alleged to have described non-Malays as penumpang in the country during her speech at the start of the Merdeka celebration last Thursday.

The secondary school principal was jeered when she tried to apologise for her allegedly racist remark during an assembly. She was forced to leave the assembly area at least twice in front of state education department officials, teachers, parents and students yesterday.

The school, which has about 2,200 students and 150 teachers, comprised about 40 percent non-Malays.

Deputy Education Minister Dr Puad Zarkashi said he had spoken to the state education director, who informed him that the issue had been resolved with the principal apologising and visiting all the classrooms to explain the situation. (ANI)