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Published: Friday March 22, 2013 MYT 2:17:00 PM
Updated: Friday March 22, 2013 MYT 4:10:11 PM

Lahad Datu: Teacher, nabbed for allegedly insulting security forces, may be charged

By CHRISTINA TAN


BATU PAHAT: A teacher arrested for allegedly insulting security forces over the Sulu terrorist intrusion in Sabah could face disciplinary, including the sack.

Deputy Education Minister Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said the ministry's disciplinary board had carried out investigation on the alleged insult.

“The teacher has been released on police bail and is expected to be charged in court soon according to the police because it is a sedition case.

“He is suspended now and will face disciplinary action from the ministry next,” he said after attending groundbreaking ceremony of multipurpose hall and new school building of SJK (C) Chern Hwa in Bukit Pasir here on Friday.

Dr Mohd Puad said under the disciplinary proceedings the teacher faced possible dismissal, suspension of duty or pay or emolument, demotion to a lower classification or warning.

“Action taken will depend on the seriousness of the wrongdoings as well as court decision and punishment,” he said.

The teacher, in his Facebook posting, had allegedly insulted the security forces' personnel by referring to them as dogs and claiming that they had died in vain.

Eight policemen and a soldier were killed by the Sulu terrorists in villages in Lahad Datu and by Semporna, which prompted the government to launch an offensive on March 5 to flush out the enemy. One soldier died in a road accident.

Dr Mohd Puad said the ministry would not compromise on such seditious behaviour because it would raise doubts among the parents against teachers, who supposed to teach children about patriotism.

It is also against the ethics of the teaching profession and tarnish of the image of the profession, he added.

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