KUALA LUMPUR - A school counsellor was among the 16 suspected terrorists arrested in a sweeping crack down by the Malaysian authorities across the states of Selangor, Kelantan, Perak, Kedah, Penang and Sabah recently.

The counsellor, who was nabbed in the operation conducted from September 21 to October 6, was attached to a school in one of the states, according to the Education Ministry.

The revelation prompted Education Department director-general Tan Sri Dr Khair Mohamad Yusof to warn that the ministry would not tolerate any instances of teachers, staff or students being involved in militant activities, reported The New Straits Times.

"We will continue to give our full cooperation to the police to ensure such activities do not spread," Tan Sri Dr Khair said in a statement on Monday (Oct 10).

Dr Khair also issued a stern warning that such activities could tarnish the teaching profession and result in a negative impact on the country, asserting that there would be no compromise if any ministry staff were caught up in such cases.

He said this included the spread of slanderous statements via social media or involvement in anti-government activities, reported the New Straits Times.