Malay Indian educationist says racist remarks in schools nothing new

KUALA LUMPUR - A former teacher and former president of the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP), the country’s largest teachers organisation, P. Ramanathan, has said racist remarks are nothing new as they were common among teachers and pupils and often practised by all ethic groups.

“This was usually a form of letting off steam due to unfairness in the way the school is administered. The use of double standards which favour certain groups also result in such remarks and comments. Some teachers and pupils are taken to task by the headmaster for certain activities while others who do similar mistakes are not punished,” the New Strait Times quoted the Malya Indian academic, as saying.

“Things like this, which lead to frustration, result in such remarks,” he added.

“However, the difference is that some say it loudly while many just whisper among their own racial groups,” he said.

Ramanathan said that during his 35 years of teaching and active involvement in the NUTP, there were many such cases that were dealt with within the ambit of the school regulations.

“We never went to the media, and always settled them amicably among ourselves without much fuss,” he added.

Ramanathan was commenting on the case of a school principal in Kulaijaya, Johor, who had allegedly used racist remarks on August 12. (ANI)