One Malaysia

Students from different races are having fun mixing together. Its the politicians who could not mix together. Or .... may be .... it is the only way to gain votes in their party elections. Whatever said and done ..... the picture speaks a thousand words

Remembering May 13

Remembering May 13 may not many people's happy moments. But for me it was my first exposure to political coffee shop talk. Those days the campaign had a festival atmosphere. A lot of interesting things happened. Movies, "ceramahs", sports carnivals and so on were organised.
I was 12 years old in 1969. Rather than remembering May 13, 1969 I very well remember May 12, 1969. I was traveling to KL in "kereta sewa" with my father from Tanah Merah Estate in Port Dickson. The driver was ferrying voters to polling stations on May 11. The driver and my dad were talking about the election results the day earlier. A lot was discussed but I still can recall the victory of Dr. Soorian in Port Dickson defeating Alliance candidate Mahima Singh. Mahima Singh, according to my father commented that a Guinness (stout) can buy Indian votes in PD. So my dad mentioned that the Indians thought him and the MIC a lesson they won't forget. (How wrong was my father?)

Just before the PRU12, another MIC candidate in the same estate reportedly told the Indian voters (alleged supporters of Hindraf) "if you don't like me vote me out". The voters obliged happily and did just that.

Going back to 1969, when I reached KL I saw lot of posters were marked with cow dung and we saw some sort of celebration. (people waving flags - I remember the Gerakan flags) I remember well because I used to read road signs and jot them down in triple five (555) note book I always carried with me. So I jotted down many things the poster said.

We actually went to bring back my sister who was 7 months pregnant. (The Indians custom is to do "valaikappu" when the daughter is seven month pregnant)We brought her back. My brother in law decided come back after a day or two. That is what made us never to forget May 13.

After the riots broke out, he went missing. He was staying in Ayer Panas, Setapak. Can you imagine the worries among the family members? I wasn't sad because the schools declared holiday. The only source of information was the trusty old radio. Later we got the papers. I used to read them for my father. He couldn't read and I usually couldn't understand what I read.
But eventually everything turned out to be ok as my bro-in-law became a refuge in the Merdeka Stadium and returned home much later.

Ayanda, Mamakanda, kakakanda ......

There are many types of schools in Malaysia. I am not talking about the national type or the national schools.
There are elite schools, harapan (hopeful?) schools, the potential schools and the unfortunate schools. This last type is always towards the bottom of the PMR, SPM and STPM achievements. The students come from poor socio-economic or academic background. It is not of any design but happens that way!

It takes determination and continued tolerance on the part of the administration to bring about success. Many headmasters or headmistresses due to the pressure of the state educational departments and the ministry only accept academic achievement as the measurement of success. Very few even think about the development of their students in terms of surviving in the society. No skills are developed. No one dare dilute the needs of the syllabus to suite the need or the level of their clients.

They start extra classes in January for the exam classes. Even the co-curricular activities are sacrificed to achieve greatness in the public exams. We even have tuition schemes where teachers are given an allowance to teach in the afternoon or holidays. (Primary schools) Have they thought about the weaker students whom gain nothing through these classes?

Hardly have we had 100 % teacher attendance in schools. There are many courses, meetings, briefings that need the teachers to stay away from schools. With the introduction of district level education offices, the numbers of meetings and in-service courses have increased. Do you dare think what happens to the weak students when 2 or 3 teachers do not enter class in one day? (Yes, we have relief teachers entering. Are they effective?)

Then we have headmasters going a bit further. They advocate "sekolah penyayang" a bit too far. I heard there are headmasters who ask the students to call them "ayanda" (daddy) the female senior assistants "mamakanda" or "bonda" (mummy). The teachers become "kakanda" (sis of bro). These are efforts to achieve so called success.

Some even reprimand the teacher for punishing the students. Some over zealous head masters tell the teachers about it during the weekly assembly. When the students hear this the problematic ones will not heed the teacher's orders.

Don't get me wrong. A teacher should be replacement for parents when the child is in school. But to call them father and mother is not proper. Please do not argue that that is our culture. We only have to behave as teachers. Hey! Guys, you are not running your family. You are paid to lead the school. Show that you are a leader!

This is one of the many problems our schools face. Are we attacking the problem at the cause? One should look at the root of the problem. Not implement programmes that sound and look fancy!

We expected better behavior.

I wanted to write something that would be beneficial to the readers. At least wanted to try. So I have many already written but yet to be posted articles.

"Opposition flexes muscles as Parliament descends into chaos" - Malaysia today headline.

But I have to write about the darn politicians.
What happened in the eagerly waited 12th Parliament Session's first day made me to ask a few questions?
PRU 12 is hailed as the turning point of our beloved country's political scene.
What turning point?
The enlightened 'rakyat' showed maturity electing a strong opposition. These distinguished legislators are showing their real colour and not their maturity. They fell to the ruling party's ploy.
Are they so naive?
Televised question-time will turn into similar chaos.
The public voted in men and women from many different fields. We expect better judgment and provocative behavior. Not aggressiveness. It takes two to tango.

We need to show good behavior and be example to our kids. The corruption, improper behavior and intolerance shown by the politicians will bring long lasting effect on the children.

Look at the growing trend among the school going children. Many are not interested in studies. The have little respect for their teachers. The list goes on and on.

The education ministry is attempting to solve the problems. Many teachers feel that the problem is the remedies are targeted at the wrong place. It is not the school alone that is causing the problem. We should attack the problem at the source.
Are we attacking the correct source?
One of the sources is the politicians. Today's parliament session is an example of disregard for the law and rules.