Prof to be probed for remarks about vernacular schools, Dewan Rakyat told

March 12, 2024

Prof to be probed for remarks about vernacular schools, Dewan Rakyat told

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have opened an investigation paper on academician Prof Teo Kok Seong over his alleged offensive remark about the Chinese community, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

According to the Home Minister, Teo is being investigated under Section 505 of the Penal Code for public mischief and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for misuse of network facilities.

Several police reports have been lodged in Penang and Kuala Lumpur against the former professor of ethnic studies, he said when winding up the debate on the motion of thanks on the royal address in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (March 11).

Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN-Machang) had said there were no police reports lodged against Teo and The Merdeka Times owner Firdaus Wong that could allow a probe to be opened.

Former DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng (PH-Bagan) then interjected and criticised Teo, saying the latter had forgotten his roots.

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Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul told Lim to retract the remark.

“I will retract, but he (Teo) has really forgotten everything,” Lim said.

Last week, DAP vice-president Teresa Kok (PH-Seputeh) urged the police to investigate Teo based on a viral TikTok video where the professor was reportedly heard saying that Chinese vernacular schools are being used to spread racial sentiments.

Kok described Teo’s remarks as “inflammatory towards the Chinese community”.

In the video published by The Merdeka Times, Teo said vernacular schools are obstacles to national unity as the Chinese look down on the Malays.

He also said that 95% of Chinese students are sent to vernacular schools and that they refuse to integrate with the Malays.