KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 6 — The Sarawak Bumiputera Teachers Union (KGBS) is against the Education Ministry’s proposal for all district education offices (PPDs) to establish an action committee to address threats pertained to the Zika virus at schools.

The group’s president, Ahmad Malie, told the Borneo Post that he and his members felt that the responsibility should fall on the Health Ministry instead.

"In this regard, the teachers can render their assistance and cooperation; not take lead in such teams,” he was quoted as saying.

Ahmad reportedly said that KGBS had earlier voiced out that the symptoms of those affected by the disease would only show after several days and therefore, he added that the proposed team should comprise of health officials rather than teachers only.

"KGBS does not want the teachers to become the target whenever an issue arises in the country and whatever action taken to address it,” he was quoted as saying.

Ahmad further said that teachers should not be asked or assigned to handle issues that were related the portfolios of other agencies.

"When there’s a road accident, teachers are asked to deal with the problem; when a drug issue crops up, they’re also asked to handle it.

"What KGBS means here is this — assign the main responsibility to those who are experts in the matter; the teachers can play the supporting roles, except issues related to education,” he was quoted as saying.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid reportedly said that the formation of teams within the education departments, involving PPDs, principals, parent-teacher associations, were needed to monitor and ensure preventive measures are taken against the spread of Zika virus.

A man living in Sabah, who had contracted Zika locally, died Saturday from heart complications. Another Malaysian, the first recorded to have been infected with Zika, is reportedly recovering.

Zika is carried by Aedes mosquitoes, which transmit it to humans, and is also passed through sex.  

Neighbouring Singapore has reported 215 cases of Zika infections.