KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 — Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom said today it was just a misunderstanding — the allegedly offensive remarks by a Johor school principal — and the matter had been resolved.  

Siti Inshah Mansor, the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra principal, allegedly said that “Chinese students... can return to China,” and likened Indian prayer strings to dog leashes during school assembly.

Alimuddin denied that the principal has been transferred from the school.

“There is no change, the issue was only a misunderstanding and the problem has been solved between the principal and students,” he told The Malaysian Insider by SMS.

The police are currently investigating the case under Section 504 of the Penal Code for provocation which carries a maximum imprisonment of two years, a fine or both.

A total of 17 complaints have been lodged with the authorities.

Kulai Jaya deputy OCPD Deputy Supt Mohd Kamil Sukarmi told reporters that the police would be calling for the principal’s statement to be recorded today.

On Thursday, the principal had reportedly made the derogatory remarks during the launch of the school’s Merdeka celebrations.

“Chinese students are not needed here and can return to China or Foon Yew schools. For the Indian students, the prayer string tied around their neck and wrist makes them look like dogs because only dogs are tied like that,” Siti Inshah was quoted as saying in at least one police report.

State Education Department deputy director Markom Giran has also said that the principal was on leave pending disciplinary action.

The school administration confirmed with The Malaysian Insider that the principal has been leave since yesterday and is expected to be back by Monday.

Yesterday Lim Kit Siang called on the government to remove the principal and said that she should be severely punished for the offensive remarks allegedly made during a school assembly.