Exco denies claims teacher told pupils to "drink own urine"

The claim that a teacher in a primary school in Kedah had told non-Muslim pupils to drink their own urine is untrue.

State Education, Transport and Housing Executive Committee chairman Datuk Tajul Urus Mat Zain said the statement made by the senior teacher was not as reported in a letter written by the family members of non-Muslim students which went viral on the social media.

"This all arose from an anonymous letter written by a family member of one of the non-Muslim pupils to the Kuala Muda District Education Office stating that a teacher from the Sekolah Kebangsaan Ibrahim, Sungai Petani had instructed non-Muslim pupils to drink pipe water or their own urine in the school toilet during the month of Ramadan at the school assembly yesterday morning.

"We believe the statement was misunderstood by the pupils. The teacher wanted to ask that non-Muslim pupils respect the Muslim pupils and not drink in front of them, but to go to the toilet to drink," he told reporters at Wisma Darul Aman here today.

Tajul Urus said parents should go to the school to get an explanation from the teacher first before making a blind statement without first checking which could touch on sensitive issues which were racial in nature.

He said they should have sought an explanation first before rushing to take action which resulted in the teacher getting threats and having to make a police report today.

"I consider this issue resolved and if any of the family members of the pupils are still not satisfied, they can come to see me to get further clarification on this matter," he said.

At the same time, Tajul Urus reminded all parties to be careful when speaking or joking as it could be misunderstood and made viral on the social media.