Although acknowledging that the remark was intended as a joke, Kamalanathan nevertheless said it was unacceptable, especially since students were involved.

"I was informed that the teacher used those words in jest with no intention of hurting the feelings of the students. However, when dealing with students, the use of such statements is NOT ACCEPTABLE," Kamalanathan wrote on his official Facebook page on Monday night.

"The teacher should be well aware of the consequences of such bad judgement, especially so with students," he added.

It was revealed that the teacher, initially believed to have told his pupils to drink their own urine to quench their thirst, had actually advised them not to do so in jest.

The teacher had advised non-Muslim pupils to drink outside the classroom and not in front of their Muslims schoolmates during Sunday's assembly.

He had joked that they could drink from the pipe in the toilet, adding '€œjangan minum air kencing kamu pula (don'€™t drink your own urine instead)'€.

The school held a special assembly at 11:15 a.m. on Monday to '€œclarify the matter'€.

The police will also investigate the matter as 12 reports had been made by parents.

The teacher involved has also lodged a police report claiming to have received threats.

"On completion of the police investigations, appropriate action will be taken to ensure such incidents are not repeated and also as a reminder to teachers to be sensitive on how to interact with their students," said Kamalanathan.

A complaint letter, written by the Waris Murid-Murid Bukan Islam (Families of non-Muslim students) to the Kedah Education Department director, had since gone viral over social media.

At least 30 parents have filed complaints with the department which subsequently launched an investigation. (hhr)

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