IPOH, MALAYSIA - A teacher who allegedly caned a boy with Down Syndrome in front of his classmates during a special education class, will be investigated.

Perak Education Department director Hussain Harun said he needed to determine what caused the teacher to lash out at 15-year-old Shaun William Abernethy at his school here on Tuesday.

"A teacher cannot cane any student for whatever reason. Only a headmaster or a discipline teacher with permission can discipline a student this way. As for special children, the best way is to advise him or her if they do anything wrong. Caning is discouraged," he said.

Yesterday, Shaun's mother Assunta David, 42, told reporters that her son was struck at least nine times - four times on his right arm, thrice on his back and twice on his thighs, allegedly with a rotan.

She said that when she went to pick up Shaun after school on Tuesday, the female teacher told her that Shaun had been punished because he had "hit the teacher on her back and made noise" in class.

"At first, I agreed that Shaun needed to be disciplined. Then the special class supervisor lifted Shaun's shirt to show the marks and I started crying," she said at her home.

"The marks were so bad I decided to hide them from my husband or he would have lost his temper." Assunta said her son did not say anything and seemed to be "in shock."

The next day, Assunta confronted the teacher and school principal, who apologised and offered to have the teacher pay for the medical bills if her son was taken to a clinic.

On Friday, Shaun's contractor father Arthur William Abernethy, 44, found out about the caning and lodged a report at the Sungai Senam police station at 5.25pm.

"I'm deeply disappointed that a teacher assigned to educate special children could abuse my son like this. I hope the police and the education department look seriously into the matter so that other children do not have to suffer," said Abernethy.

Ipoh Barat Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) division chairman Fauzi Muda, who was also present, said no special child should be disciplined in such an inhumane way.