SEREMBAN, Malaysia: It is supposed to be a co-ed school but boys and girls at SMK Senawang Jaya near here are not allowed to mix.

They are not allowed to study in the same classroom or eat at the same table in the canteen. In fact, a new block was built to ensure their classrooms were located away from each other.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who was clearly incensed by the school's decision to segregate its students, has asked for a report from the state Education Department on how this could have happened.

"This is very much against the policy of the Education Ministry. A co-ed school is meant to be a co-ed school. Headmasters cannot decide to have different policies for their schools," he said.

Mohamad said if parents wished to send their children to only all-boys or girls' schools, they should be given the option to decide so.

State Education director Abdullah Mohammad said SMK Senawang Jaya had not been given permission to segregate its students.

Abdullah, who met the school's officials after being told of the matter on Wednesday, said he had directed its senior assistant to ensure the policy was rescinded immediately.

"In fact, I was surprised when told that there were different walkways for male and female students. This cannot be allowed," he said.

The school headmaster Muhammad Amir YM Shariff was away performing the haj in Mecca.

Asked if disciplinary action would be taken against the school head for breaching the ministry?s policy, Abdullah said he would need to get more information on the changes made.

"My main concern now is to ensure they follow the policy set by the ministry," he said.

Students were told of the new policy on the last day of school last year.

They were also told that disciplinary action would be taken against anyone who breached the new ruling, which came into force on the first day of the new school term this year.

"In fact, some of the school teachers were unhappy after the headmaster made the announcement. However, no one dared to oppose the directive," said one teacher who spoke on condition of anonymity.

On another matter, Mohamad said Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd's (KTMB) plan to introduce a ?tourist train? from here to Port Dickson had not been shelved.

"The project is certainly on. I have been told that KTMB was waiting for this year?s budget and the project will take off soon," he said.