KOTA KINABALU, Dec 1 — Christian students in a public school in Sabah’s interior district of Keningau have allegedly been prohibited from wearing the crucifix as an accessory under threat of caning and possible suspension, a local daily reported.

According to the Daily Express, non-Muslim students were required to obtain permission from Sekolah Menengah Ken Hwa’s disciplinary board if they wished to wear the crucifix — the image of Jesus Christ on a cross — to school.

“The regulation that came under Kebersihan Diri (personal cleanliness) stated that students are not allowed to wear jewellery and ‘tanda keagamaan’ (religious symbols such as the crucifix for Christians especially),” the newspaper quoted a senior teacher as saying.

Students who are permitted to wear the item will be issued with approval passes that must be carried daily within the school.

"We don't want the students to abuse this privilege by wearing jewellery to school instead of the religious symbols," she said, claiming that the school regulation is in line with the guidelines issued by the Education Ministry.

The punishment for not adhering to the regulation comes under the category of minor offences, which would see offenders receive counselling from the disciplinary board and caning either on the palm or on the buttocks (for boys only). The offender would also be given a warning.

The regulations have supposedly been in effect since 2009.

When contacted by Malay Mail Online, school principal Chong Nyuk Choon said the allegations were serious and that he would lodge a police report on the article, without elaborating further.

State Education director Datuk Jame Alip is expected to issue a statement on the report today.

A father said he became aware of the regulation after attending the briefing for parents who recently enrolled their children to the school

"Her explanation about make-up, jewellery and hair was normal for any school but I was taken aback when she said that students are also not permitted to wear the crucifix without getting prior approval from the disciplinary board," he said. The speaker was not identified.

He said that he read the regulation many times just to make sure that he did not misinterpret it.

"What I am concerned about is why religious symbols are put under the personal cleanliness heading.

"Is the crucifix that Christians wear proudly to profess their belief considered dirty that Christian students are not allowed to wear in the school unless they get permission to do so?" he asked

Last week, the Labuan Matriculation College — which in 2012 grabbed headlines over the alleged conversion of several Christian students to another faith — was in the news again, this time for asking Christian students who want to pray the Rosary — a Catholic prayer — to do so under the trees in the compound.

It was reported that three students allegedly converted to another faith that year and it was alleged that another three students did the same this year.

Deputy Education Minister Datuk Mary Yap had reportedly ordered an internal probe into the matter.