KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9 — Former youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman has condemned the alleged act of a teacher who coaxed a student to embrace Islam.

Taking it to Twitter, Syed Saddiq has said that teachers should be setting a good example for all students, and not discriminating against some.

“Such disgusting news! Sports is for everyone!

“Teachers should be good examples for students. Not discriminating others,” he tweeted today.

He also said in the post that sports is the best platform to unite all Malaysians.

Syed Saddiq was responding to news reports on a teacher who allegedly told a Form Three student that converting to Islam would boost his chances of getting a spot in the national football team.

The student’s mother has since lodged a police report on the matter and the police have launched an investigation.

In a report by New Straits Times, Cheras police chief Assistant Commissioner Zam Halim Jamaluddin said on February 7, at 10.21am, in the report lodged, the student’s mother had stated her dissatisfaction with a teacher who is said to have encouraged her son to convert to Islam.

He said an investigation paper had been opened under Section 298A of the Penal Code and Section 505(b) of the same Act.

Section 298A looks into the offence of causing disharmony, disunity, or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will, or prejudicing the maintenance of harmony or unity, on grounds of religion while Section 505(b) deals with those who make, publish or circulate any statement, rumour or report with intent to cause fear or alarm to the public.

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/02/09/teachers-should-be-role-models-for-students-sports-is-for-everyone-says-syed-saddiq/54177