GEORGE TOWN, MALAYSIA - Several teachers have complained that their headmaster had used "bullying" tactics on them after an anonymous letter criticising the school administration was sent to the state education department.

"The teachers were ill-treated because one of them was suspected of being behind the letter," said State National Union of the Teaching Profession chairman Lim Ming Tzong @Adam Alim Abdullah.

Lim said the union had received several complaints of school heads victimising their teachers this year.

"A member accused a principal of using the annual appraisal to threaten a teacher," he said at a Hari Raya-cum-Deepavali open house at the branch office here yesterday.

The other complaints received by the union included that of 35 teachers who had asked to be transferred out of their school because they were "fed-up" with their principal.

In another case, a teacher was not allowed to take her compassionate leave despite it being her entitlement.

"Teachers will not apply for compassionate leave unless it is urgent, so there are no grounds to reject her application," he said.

"There have also been reports about principals who made their teachers attend meetings until 6pm and this is unacceptable," he added.

When contacted, State Education Department director Ibrahim Mohamad urged Lim to furnish him with details so that investigations could be carried out.

"My door is always open. Come and see me and we can have a sincere discussion rather than making complaints through the media," he said.