The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) has called on teachers to focus on teaching and leave politics to the politicians.

“We are teachers, we're supposed to teach, not get involved in politics. Then it'll be good for the country," NUTP secretary-general Harry Tan Huat Hock told Malaysiakini.

He was responding to Education Minister Mahadzir Khalid, who yesterday said five teachers had been slapped with show-cause letters for running down the government.

The move drew criticism from certain quarters, who viewed it as violating the teachers' rights in a democratic nation.