We Are Doing It Our Way

Below is a news report on the teacher who made racist remarks against Indians. We are working on it, as I have earlier said that we would get the bottom of the issue and send a clear message to the powers that be. This is despite, my own community saying whatever they like about me and the MIC over the handling of the issue. I know some people wanted me to be more vocal on this race based issue but I choose to handle it my way. This is just the start. We in the MIC are not going to take this lying down. We have our way of dealing with these issues. We are not in the opposition to just say whatever we like, throwing words etc.


KUALA LUMPUR: The teacher who allegedly used racial slurs on students in a school in Banting was temporarily transferred to another school pending investigations.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the 35-year-old teacher was moved to a school nearer to her house as the school needed a replacement Mathematics teacher.

Speaking at Parliament lobby yesterday, Hishammuddin said he had directed his deputy, Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong, to handle the matter.

He said he would not tolerate racial abuse in schools, but did not want the teacher to be falsely accused.

MIC secretary-general Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said there was a misunderstanding among the Indian community that the teacher was "rewarded" as she had been transferred to a school closer to her home.
Subramaniam said: "The Indians feel like the government is not taking any action against the teacher.

"However, I've been told by the education minister that the transfer was made to ensure the teacher's safety.

"The teacher had allegedly told students in a Form Four class that she "wanted to test their patience" and began using derogatory words.
Source NST Online

A Three Cornered Fight

The nominations for the Permatang Pauh by-election went on well this morning. It would be a three cornered fight between PKR's Anwar Ibrahim, BN's Arif Shah Omar and Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia president Hanafi Mamat. Just a few interesting facts.
The seat has 58,459 voters, 69% of whom are Malays, 25% Chinese and 6% Indians and others.
The parliamentary seat was won by Wan Azizah Wan Ismail at the last election in March with a 13,398 vote majority.
The seat has three state assembly seats --Seberang Jaya, Permatang Pasir and Penanti.
Arif Shah is the only BN candidate who won in Seberang Jaya, while Permatang Pasir was won by PAS candidate and Penanti by a PKR candidate at the last election.
Arif Shah in winning the state seat secured only a 533 vote majority, while the opposition's majority in Permatang Pasir was 5,433 votes and in Penanti 2,219.
The BN faces an uphill task in this election but try we will!

The Stage Is Set

The stage is set. Late yesterday, the Barisan Nasional named Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah as its candidate for the Permatang Pauh by-election to face Anwar Ibrahim. The election is expected to be fiery one with both sides launching the best in their arsenal to win the seat, which had been in the hands of the opposition for the last ten years. Arif himself is not new to the constituency as he is the Seberang Jaya state assemblyman. The state seat is one of the three seats in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency. The 52-year old is expected to put up a fair fight against Anwar, who is favourite to win the seat. The nomination is on Saturday while polling has been fixed for Aug 26. The BN on its part will try its best to wrest the seat away from the opposition.

On another note, let me clearly state here that many of those who responded to my earlier post should have checked the date it was posted before commenting and using vulgarities. Judging from the number of anonymous posting, I feel that some people log in everyday just to use profanities against me in the blog. When I posted the last blog, news was that the teacher apologised and was transferred. At that time, I was not informed that she was transferred to a school near her house and it was a better school than Sek Men Panglima Garang. I did not update my blog for a week now due to busy scheduled. But this does not give any reason for anyone to use crude language, to the extent of using derogatory words against me. I have time and time again said that I welcome constructive criticisms. Even if comments are not constructive, I publish all comments. But of late I realise that some commentator or commentators have taken this to be the green light to write just about anything, especially using vulgar words. To these people all I can say is if you don't have anything constructive or proper, don't waste your time writting. Now about the teacher, I would handle things my way! For those who have been ardent visitors to this blog, they would know what I mean. Thank you and God Bless.

Forgive and Forget

I have received various comments on the teacher, who uttered a racial slur against Indians in her class. Some were written in anger, some had good suggestions while others wanted me to say something that could be used against me in the future. Now since the teacher had apologised and been transferred to another school, I think it is better that we put this matter to rest. I too was angry after reading the news report the other day and now after thinking about it I think whatever that has been achieved so far is sufficient. She has been made an example to all other teachers who have the tendency to use racial lines in their classes and teaching. Its time we moved on. I also feel that there is no point in beating a dead snake. We don't even know the condition of the teacher. If she is the sole bread winner of her family etc. One comment, was exceptionally rational, questioning the facts that was reported. But whatever said and done, we have made our point and lets move on. I am not back tracking, it is just that I feel jumping on issues like this for a longer period does more harm than good.
I would also like to remind those who comment on the blog to always use proper language in your comments. Using language like "sucking-up etc" is impolite. This might be the Internet and blogsphere but that does not guarantee the right for one to use improper language. If you want others to read your constructive comments, proper language usage is necessary. I see a trend in the comments. Some people just comment to vent out their anger and frustration. The reason I started blogging is to obtain feedback and so far it has been good. It is just that some rotten apples are spoiling the barrel.

DO NOT SACK HER, TRANSFER HER TO A TAMIL SCHOOL

BELOW IS A NEWS STORY FROM MALAYSIAKINI TODAY WHICH SHOCKED AND DISAPPOINTED ME

Two police reports have been lodged against a secondary school History teacher for allegedly uttering racial slurs against Indian students.
The reports, lodged by two students from SMK Telok Panglima Garang last Friday, stated that a female history teacher had allegedly called Indian students ‘keling pariah', ‘Negro' and ‘black monkeys', amongst other derogatory names.
In the report, the Form Four and Form Five student said the teacher purportedly told students during class that ‘Indians came from dogs', Indians are ‘children of prostitutes' and the community is stupid.
They also allege that teacher had said the community youth ‘did not have testicles', ‘always menstruates' and indulged in thuggery and theft.
The full story could be accessed at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/87278.

While the government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, wants to strengthen unity among the various ethnic races in the country, we have some people, like the teacher above who fail to understand that Malaysia is not run by a single race. When the PM himself wants the nation to provide equal opportunities for all Malaysians in all areas, there are some who think that this is not wise and that only the majority should enjoy the wealth of this country. Its sad. It angers me. I am also disappointed that the teacher had passed through the country's education system and teachers training without anyone detecting her racial sentiments.
Any Malaysian regardless of race, religion, creed, colour or ethnicity does not deserve this kind of treatment and most alarming is the fact that it was uttered by a school teacher who had indirectly made all her students racists in one way or another. The physiological scar left by her on these students, will remain despite the harshest punishment meted out against her.
Now students of other races in the class, when this incident occurred, would not think twice to utter what she had said in class, outside of school. While the Indian students would be angry not only at the teacher but her race generally. In this case one rotten or bad apple spoils the barrel.
As far as I am concerned, action should be taken against the teacher. She should not be sacked as this would destroy her career and let her go on thinking that she was right in saying all those things against Indians. She should be transferred. She should be demoted and placed at a Tamil primary school. Let her go to school everyday with hundreds of Indian children and other Indian teachers.
Though deep inside I want her sacked and remain out of the country's education system, that would be an easy way out for her. She has to realise her follies and sacking her will not bring her this realisation. But transferring her to a Tamil medium primary school would certainly do the trick!
I on my part as a Deputy Minister and MIC Information chief would certainly do whatever is necessary to ensure, teachers like this do not "corrupt" our education system. First would be a chat with the Education Minister. I have my way of doing things and let me assure you that this issue will not be swept under the carpet, although the actions may not be publicised.