Education Minister will not interfere with disciplinary decision on teacher

SHAH ALAM: The Education Minister will not interfere with the education services disciplinary board's decision on teacher Mohd Fadli Mohamed Salleh.

Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin (pic) said there is a clear "border" between ministers and the civil service with regards to disciplinary action taken against civil servants.

He said that as a minister, he has to distance himself from the actions of the disciplinary board.

"However, I trust that the board will make a decision that is professional based on whatever assessments that have been conducted," he told reporters after the launch of the Inisiatif Reading Progress Di Sekolah event here on Tuesday (Oct 18).

ALSO READ: No point continuing if nothing changes at ministry, says teacher Mohd Fadli

Radzi added that there are due processes that need to be followed when it comes to disciplinary action involving civil servants.

"What is important is that all quarters follow this process in a professional manner," he said.

The education services disciplinary board is expected to give its decision involving Mohd Fadli on Wednesday.

Mohd Fadli, a mathematics teacher at a primary school in Gombak, claimed on his Facebook page last Saturday (Oct 15) that he would be fired or demoted for voicing his views on the learning syllabus that he considered was of too high a level and inappropriate for students.

He also highlighted other claims in his post, including the high number of students per class, the number of subjects and the issue of heavy school bags that he said could be harmful to students’ health.

On Sunday, Education director-general Datuk Pkharuddin Ghazali said the board would meet after receiving a letter of representation submitted by Mohd Fadli on Oct 14.

Pkharuddin said the show-cause letter to Mohd Fadli did not mean that punishment had been handed down by the board.

On a separate matter, Radzi said the ministry is transparent when it comes to its spending.

ALSO READ: Radzi: Education Ministry sec-gen told to lodge MACC report of embezzlement allegations

Commenting on allegations of embezzlement in the ministry, Radzi said he has nothing to hide.

"I'm very transparent and sincere. There is nothing I need to be concerned about. It's important for the ministry to build trust and ensure that each sen is spent wisely," he said.

His comment came following a recording sent by an individual identified as Zaharin Yassin, claiming to have received a complaint of embezzlement related to Letters of Acceptance (SST) for contracts with regard to supply of cooked food and the cleanliness of buildings and areas.

Radzi, in a Facebook post on Monday (Oct 17) night, said he had asked Education Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Yusran Shah Mohd Yusof to lodge a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) immediately.