M'sian teacher draws backlash for telling student who struggles with Malay language to 'go back to China'

A Malaysian teacher faced public backlash after telling a student, who struggles with the Malay language, to "go back to China."

An audio clip of a conversation between the teacher and the student's relative was circulated online, where the teacher was overheard making this remark.

Doubled down on racist remarks

In the audio clip, a man who's supposedly the student's relative asked the teacher why she called the student "stupid" and made him sit next to a rubbish bin.

The teacher replied that it was because the student did not understand what she said in Malay.

When asked if she had told him to "go back to China", the teacher admitted she did.

The relative then told her that such a remark could be construed as "racist" and fellow Malaysians should respect one another.

The teacher retorted him by saying that it wasn't her first time making such remarks in a school.

“I’ve said this before, and others have too. Nobody’s ever complained," she replied.

According to audio clip, the teacher continued:

"If he is 13 years old and cannot speak (Malay), we can't say it's okay. If his parents can't speak (Malay), then what should we do? If the parents also don't speak Malay, go back to China then."

Towards the end of the audio clip, the teacher claimed she was not feeling well and would be taking medical leave.

She also threatened to report the caller for invading her privacy, adding that her husband is a police officer who could track him down.

Police report made

The student's parents subsequently lodged a police report, but they withdrew it after meeting with the principal, Sin Chew Daily News reported.

On Mar. 20, the school held a meeting with its Parent Teacher Association (PTA) to discuss the matter.

Amidst backlash from the incident, the teacher has admitted her mistake and agreed to apologise to the student's parents.

The school also submitted a report to the district's education bureau on the incident.

Top image from Canva & Kwong Wah Yit Poh/Facebook