KUALA LUMPUR, July 18 -- Teachers are increasingly reluctant to discipline students for fear of being sued, reported to police or vilified on social media, Malaysia's largest teachers' union has warned, backing renewed calls for a Teachers' Protection Act.

The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) said educators were not seeking immunity from the law, but legal protection when acting professionally, in good faith and in accordance with established procedures, Utusan Malaysia reported.

NUTP secretary-general Fouzi Singon said the pressure on teachers had intensified in recent years, extending beyond the classroom to legal threats, public criticism and online scrutiny.

"Teachers today not only face the challenge of educating s...