Special school assembly over student's Facebook action

The Penang Education Department has instructed a school in Simpang Ampat near here to hold a special assembly over the incident of a student striking the 'like' button on the 'I Love Israel' Facebook fan website, resulting in a police probe.

State education director Osman Hussain said the assembly was to remind students to be more sensitive and mature in giving their opinions and responding to sensitive issues taking place around them.

The department left it to the police to handle the matter and hoped that it could be resolved out of court, he told reporters at the presentation of excellence service awards of the North East District Education Department here.

A teacher of the school had criticised the student's action on Facebook, thus inviting comments from other users who also criticised the student.

Osman said the state education department planned to arrange a counselling session for the teacher and student soon.