Minister Mahdzir Khalid said the ministry could impose the heaviest penalty if the teacher was proven guilty.
“We take this seriously. We can take action not just in this particular case but also in other cases involving the breach of law, regulations and non-compliance of the (civil) service circular.
“We have a teacher in Pahang who was sacked after being convicted in court.
“But such action requires strong evidence. We cannot take action based on hearsay or when that person is yet to be charged or sentenced,” he told reporters after a working visit to SMK Alor Akar here today.
Present were Education Director-General Khair Mohamad Yusof and Pahang Education Department Director-General Rosdi Ismail.
Mahdzir was asked to comment on a statement by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who addressed the issue at the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
It was reported that the teacher was transferred to the Hulu Selangor Education Office for two months before being transferred to another school, a decision that drew criticism from parents and teachers.
In another development, Mahdzir said the Pahang Education Department would increase its intake of more than 4,000 Orang Asli students to 25 schools statewide.
He said at the moment, the presence of Orang Asli students at dedicated schools for the Orang Asli stood at 85 per cent.
“We want to ensure their presence will be increased three or four per cent from the existing number so that the gap with the ordinary schools will not be so apparent,” he said.