http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/Breaking+News/SE+Asia/Story/STIStory_268024.html
Students sue teacher for racism
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Malaysia's top ethnic Indian politician, Samy Vellu (left), president of the Malaysian Indian Congress, is also calling for sterner disciplinary action against the teacher.
-- JOHN HENG
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KUALA LUMPUR - THREE ethnic Indian teenagers plan to sue their Malaysian schoolteacher for defamation after she taunted them with racial insults in a case that has outraged the minority community, a lawyer said on Thursday.
The ethnic Malay female history teacher has been transferred out of her school after she reportedly acknowledged making racial remarks such as calling Indians 'black monkeys' and accusing them of involvement in thuggery and theft.
The case has bolstered complaints by Malaysia's minorities that racism by the majority Malay population is entrenched and institutionalised.
Some 500 ethnic Indians protested outside the school in central Selangor state last week after the teenage students filed a police complaint against her. Police said she would not be charged because she had not committed a criminal offense.
Three of the students plan to sue the teacher later this month because 'she made false allegations that go right to the roots of their origins', said their lawyer, S.N. Pathmanabhan.
They will decide what kind of compensation they want later.
The students will also write to the government to demand the teacher be fired, he said.
It is the latest incident causing racial friction in a country that takes pride in its multiethnic peace and stability. Malay Muslims comprise about 60 percent of Malaysia's 27 million people.
Ethnic Chinese constitute a quarter of the population, while Indians make up less than 10 per cent.
Malaysia's top ethnic Indian politician, Samy Vellu, president of the Malaysian Indian Congress, is also calling for sterner disciplinary action against the teacher.
'This sort of people will give the government ... a bad name and may reduce the support of the Indian community', Mr Samy said in a statement on Wednesday.
Minority Indians largely voted against the government in March general elections amid rising complaints that the Malay-dominated ruling coalition deprives them of economic and educational opportunities and promotes religious discrimination. -- AP
Students sue teacher for racism
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>
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</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
Malaysia's top ethnic Indian politician, Samy Vellu (left), president of the Malaysian Indian Congress, is also calling for sterner disciplinary action against the teacher.
-- JOHN HENG
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
KUALA LUMPUR - THREE ethnic Indian teenagers plan to sue their Malaysian schoolteacher for defamation after she taunted them with racial insults in a case that has outraged the minority community, a lawyer said on Thursday.
The ethnic Malay female history teacher has been transferred out of her school after she reportedly acknowledged making racial remarks such as calling Indians 'black monkeys' and accusing them of involvement in thuggery and theft.
The case has bolstered complaints by Malaysia's minorities that racism by the majority Malay population is entrenched and institutionalised.
Some 500 ethnic Indians protested outside the school in central Selangor state last week after the teenage students filed a police complaint against her. Police said she would not be charged because she had not committed a criminal offense.
Three of the students plan to sue the teacher later this month because 'she made false allegations that go right to the roots of their origins', said their lawyer, S.N. Pathmanabhan.
They will decide what kind of compensation they want later.
The students will also write to the government to demand the teacher be fired, he said.
It is the latest incident causing racial friction in a country that takes pride in its multiethnic peace and stability. Malay Muslims comprise about 60 percent of Malaysia's 27 million people.
Ethnic Chinese constitute a quarter of the population, while Indians make up less than 10 per cent.
Malaysia's top ethnic Indian politician, Samy Vellu, president of the Malaysian Indian Congress, is also calling for sterner disciplinary action against the teacher.
'This sort of people will give the government ... a bad name and may reduce the support of the Indian community', Mr Samy said in a statement on Wednesday.
Minority Indians largely voted against the government in March general elections amid rising complaints that the Malay-dominated ruling coalition deprives them of economic and educational opportunities and promotes religious discrimination. -- AP
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