The termination of an Indian food service provider at Politeknik Seberang Perai was not a racial issue, said MIC education bureau chief P Kamalanathan.

"I wish to stress here that the issue is not a racial issue as in total four contractors were terminated based on administrative reasons," said Kamalanathan, who is also the deputy education minister.

According to earlier news reports, the Indian food canteen operator, who was the only non-Muslim canteen operator on campus, was told to cease operations on grounds that his stall was not "syariah compliant".