Wanita Gerakan is utterly disgusted over the use of the word “pariah” by a school principal during a speech.

Wanita Gerakan secretary-general Jayanthi Devi Balaguru said the teacher’s racial and insensitive remark was disgraceful, unwarranted and lacking in respect of fellow Malaysians.

“Although the principal has apologized, we feel that as a teacher, being the third highest respected person, should have been more sensitive to the feelings of the people, especially those of the Hindu faith,” Jayanthi said in a statement.

Principal Zaini Mohd Zin of SMK Taman Tasik Ampang in Selangor was reported to have said the word ‘pariah’ during a speech.

However, she later told the media that she believes that she was taken out of context as she had used the word while referring to the novel ‘Interlok’ which has attracted much controversy.

Jayanthi said children of Hindu faith families were instilled the basic fundamental teaching that the Mother, Father, Teacher, God (“maatha, peetha, guru, deiyvam”) comes in importance and sequence for respect in one’s life.

“It is a sheer shame that Puan Zaini in her capacity as the third highest respected field of people has added herself to the “top of the charts” list of makers of racial and insensitive remarks,” Jayanthi said.
Jayanthi said following the remark, her email inbox had been flooded with messages of anger and frustration.

“Puan Zaini, take heed, there is no low caste, there is no race called “pariah”. There is only ignorance and there is only attitude which Malaysians like you, adopt, believe and preach. Puan Zaini, listen and listen well, there is only one caste and only one race and that is the same caste and race you and I share in common, “HUMANKIND!”

According to complainant AP Raja Retinam, who is also Federation of Malaysian Indian Organisation information chief, the principal’s apology was made at 12.30pm on Monday.

“She made the apology to the Indian students today, so the matter is closed and we are moving on,” he said.