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Posts Tagged ‘Marginalisation’

SMK Pusat Bandar Puchong 1 and Chinese New Year Decorations

January 7th, 2020

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SMK Pusat Bandar Puchong 1 hits the limelight again after about 5 over years. Previously there was some news about students getting hysteria way back in 2014. Anyway, back to the issue at hand.

According to this lawyer, parents (some/few/many?) complained about the decorations done at the school for the upcoming Chinese New Year. so this guy, who is vice president of Parti Bumiputera Persaka Malaysia (why isn’t this a surprise?) wrote a letter on behalf of the parents to the school demanding that the decoration be removed.

Let’s look at the letter’s content:

Adalah kami merujuk kepada perkara yang tersebut di atas.

2. Biro Aduan Awam dan Undang-undang PUTRA telah pun menerima aduan daripada ibu bapa berkaitan dengan perhiasan berkaitan sambutan perayaan tahun baru Cina di SMK Pusat Bandar Puchong 1.

3. Aduan-aduan yang kami terima menggambarkan rasa tidak selesa dan tidak senang hati ibu bapa berkaitan dengan perhiasan yang keterlaluan di sekolah Puan untuk sambutan perayaan tahun baru Cina 2020. Ada juga ibu bapa yang membayangkan keadaan Sekolah yang seolah-olah telah di hias seumpama gedung perniagaan milik China dan terdapat unsur-unsur keagamaan Selain Agama Islam yang telah mendatangkan perasaan tidak aman dan Damai di kalangan pelajar beragama Islam dan bertentangan dengan Perkara 3(1) Perlembagaan Persekutuan. <Me: does one expect the decoration to be different according to building? Schools must have different decoration than other premises? Only China owned buildings can decorate? Also, its not China but Cina. So far, we have learned in school that Chinese New Year is more of a cultural festival. We can read many stories in the media where converts also celebrate Chinese New Year. Unless there is some deity images or some cute pig images, nothing wrong in putting decorations in school. The only issue I can find is possibly too much decorate, but hey, that’s the whole point of wanting to experience the feeling of festival celebration. Aside: This is also the reason why you can’t simply close down vernacular schools since its not only about learning the language, but include experiencing the culture as well>

Di lampirkan gambar-gambar perhiasan yang di maksudkan di sekolah Puan.

4. Selanjutnya, PUTRA juga menyatakan bahawa tindakan Puan membenarkan perhiasan berlebihan untuk perayaan agama masyarakat Cina ini di sekolah Awam juga adalah bertentangan dengan Perkara 12(3) Perlembagaan Persekutuan yang menyatakan bahawa “tiada sesiapa boleh menerima apa2 ajaran agama atau menyertai apa2 Amalan agama Selain ugamanya sendiri”. <Me:Attempting to scare by quoting the constitution. Putting up decorations is not attempting to proselytise. Haiyo, ini pun tak faham…>

5. Selanjutnya, tindakan Puan ini juga adalah satu bentuk penyebaran dakyah agama lain di kalangan pelajar beragama Islam yang bertentangan dengan Perkara 11(4) Perlembagaan Persekutuan. <Me: yeah, another attempt to misdirect and abuse the constitution.>

6. PUTRA dengan ini memberikan masa 3 hari kepada Puan daripada Tarikh surat ini untuk menurunkan semula kesemua perhiasan perayaan keagamaan kaum Cina di SMK Pusat Bandar Puchong 1.

7. Sekiranya pihak Puan enggan untuk berbuat demikian, kami akan melaporkan kepada pihak berkuasa untuk tindakan lanjut. <Me: wonder who one should report to? Jabatan Agama?>

Oklah, consider that there exists a bunch of parents who lived under coconut shell all their lives, shocked to see red color decorations in school. They go and complain to this person. At least this person, being a learned person, could have explained that this is Chinese New Year decoration, another 3 weeks will be gone. But no…he went on to write letter. Well, wishful thinking.

But the one that takes the cake is the reply from the HM via email which the guy posted on FB and reported in the media. According to the reply, the HM claimed that she was not informed of the decoration plans (maybe done over weekend?). She also said that the relevant parties will remove the decoration after she had admonished them.

I’m not sure if this is the correct response to an factually incorrect letter. Maybe the HM should refer to district education office so as to not offend our citizens by relenting to wrong reasons. At most, maybe she can say that the decorations has been reduced but to accept that the decoration is challenging Article 3(1) – Islam as official religion of federation, 12(3) – forcing to take part in other religion, or 11(4) – propagating to Muslims, is very irresponsible. The HM should have done better especially being a person of standing in the education field.

Sad to read this kind of news right?

Edit: If anything, I would be proud of whoever it was (parents, teachers, PIBG etc) who took the effort to decorate the school.

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Posted in BornInMalaysia, Education

Tags: Culture discrimination Education Festival Marginalisation Racial Integration Unity

SJKT St Joseph still standing on stilts built in 1924!

June 7th, 2013

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This is the SECOND time this school’s misery is published in newspaper. Already once in January, and before that in 2011. So that’s 2.5 years. Already. Nothing to be surprised as the school remains the same as in 1970s, and standing on the same stilts built in 1924. Another 11 years it will centenary celebration for the stilts.

Before GE13, MIC’s Dato Saravanan visited and mentioned about relocation. 6 months down the lane, still waiting for decision. Will forward this to newly minted Deputy Minister of Education P Kamalanathan to see how things are progressing.

No canteen, no field, no computer lab, no science lab. AND still does well in UPSR.

Do you believe these parents will vote for you?

89 years old: St Joseph was built in 1924 on wooden stilts. Today, it still stands on the same wooden stilts. The school does not have a canteen, field, library, science lab or computer room.

PARENTS of children attending an 89-year-old Tamil primary girls’ school in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur are calling on the Government to make good its promise to build a new school for them.

SJK (T) St Joseph’s board of governors want to know what progress has been made on a pledge that they be relocated.

In January during the distribution of RM100 school assistance by then Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk M. Saravanan, parents had requested for a new building with proper facilities.

Following this, Saravanan announced the Government had allocated three acres of land in the Batu Muda people’s housing project (PPR) where the school would be relocated to.

He said the land belonged to the Education Ministry, and that it was ideal because it could accommodate a football field too.

“Saravanan told us an announcement would be made before the general election,’’ school board chairman Alice Fatimah said. However, they have not heard anything since.

“Every day they (parents) ask me to update them on when we are getting the land. Their children’s future is at stake,’’ she said.

“We want the authorities to come clean about their plans for our school, especially when there are rumours that something else is being planned for the land.

“We will go to Putrajaya to see the Prime Minister if we have to.”

She reiterated that they were only asking for what had been promised.

Alice said St Joseph would be holding its annual Sports Day on June 15, and the school authorities needed to look for sponsors to bring pupils to the venue.

“We face this problem every year. Since we have no school field or proper facilities, we have to beg for sponsors to provide us with a venue to carry out activities such as Sports Day.

“This time, we are holding the event at La Salle Sentul, but we still need funds to transport the children there.

“In April, we organised a Science Day for the children but we could not afford to hold it at a different venue. We had no choice but to cram over 100 pupils into the assembly area.

“This is not the way to educate children, we clearly need a more conducive environment for them,’’ she lamented.

All this can be settled once and for all if the Government builds the school,’’ said Alice, who was formerly the St Joseph’s parent-teacher association (PTA) chairman.

Former PTA deputy chairman Kobi Subramaniam said there were rumours the land had been allocated for another project.

A parent who only wished to be identified as K. Menaka said she studied at St Joseph in the 1970s.

“It was tough back then, with no facilities, but nothing has changed for my 10-year-old daughter who is studying here now,’’ she said.

Parent M. Shankar said with so many Indian representatives in the government, someone should take the responsibility to solve the problem.

“Enough is enough, it is time for action and we want this matter resolved once and for all,’’ Shankar said.

St Joseph was built in 1924 on wooden stilts. Today, it still stands on the same wooden stilts. The school does not have a canteen, field, library, science lab or computer room.

Its pupils sit under trees during recess and have been doing their sports activities by the roadside.

According to Alice, the school receives some funds from the Education Ministry from time to time to repair the leaking roof and termite-infested building.

“Clearly, long-term solutions are needed for the well-being of these children,’’ she said.

In January, StarMetro reported that the owner of the land had asked the school to relocate.

Due to uncertainty over its future, the school authorities were not able to proceed with renovation plans on the ageing structure.

“It would be pointless to keep renovating when in the end, we do not know what the future holds,’’ Alice pointed out.

The partially-aided school has five classrooms, 135 pupils and 15 teachers.

Those interested in helping the school can call Alice at 012-305 9615.

source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2013/6/7/central/13207439&sec=central

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Posted in Indian, Tamil-Schools

Tags: Education KL Marginalisation MIC Tamil school

Tamil schools not allowed to take holiday for Ponggal???

January 9th, 2013

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Another ridiculous move by the MOE if the news below is true. Previously, Tamil schools can take special holiday for Ponggal which falls in mid January. And surely no one in the right mind will put a day before Thaipusam as replacement class! What in the world are these guys having for food? Is this only in Kedah or nationwide directive?

THE Indian community is unhappy over the Education Ministry’s decision not to allow Tamil schools to take a day off as a special holiday for the Ponggal festival which falls on Jan 14, reported Tamil Nesan.

It quoted Sungai Petani MIC division deputy chairman T.H. Subra as saying that education officers did not understand the significance of the festival.

He was also unhappy that Jan 26 had been marked as a school day to replace additional holidays given for the Chinese New Year celebration.

“This is unsuitable as most Hindu children will be busy preparing for Thaipusam, which falls on Jan 27,” he said, adding that until last year, Tamil schools were given the flexibility to take three days off a year for religious festivals.

He urged education officers to be fair to all communities.

source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2013/1/9/nation/12549401&sec=nation

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Posted in Indian, Religion, Tamil-Schools

Tags: Culture Education Festival Hinduism Kedah Marginalisation Religion Tamil school Thaipusam

Christmas Deco vs Deepavali Deco

December 14th, 2012

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Its wonderful to see grand Christmas decorations at our various shopping malls. It attracts people from all walks of life to take photos and enjoy the decorations. What more with school holidays and year end sales to attract more crowd. One can easily spend a whole day in shopping malls without noticing the time flying.

Unfortunately, the same doesn’t happen during Deepavali. If the management of these malls have the similar thinking as for Christmas, then surely they can do similar wonders that attract crowds from various background. Usually, some measily “kolam” is done, and that’s about it. Come on, a very famous and important religious festival only represented by “kolam”?

Not forgetting, we also have plenty of tourists from India (about 700k in 2011), not including Indian diaspora countries. You can put some effort to attract them to your mall as well.

Yeah, these are business entities and they have their own business objectives, i.e. bottom lines to worry about. But if there’s not Christmas deco, you think November/December sales will drop? No tourists will visit malls? So, what’s the logic for such elaborate decoration, and comparatively zilch for Deepavali?

Read the article below on Christmas decorations. Do you think only Christians appreciate them or that only Christians will shop during this time? No right? Probably if you allocate about quarter of the budget from Christmas deco for Deepavali deco, can do quite a lot. You can even initiate collaboration with various IPTs for their students to help with decorations and displaying some creative stuff.

Or are you waiting for government to provide some incentives? Maybe there should some enforced ruling to ensure shopping malls also participate in nation building?

It all boils down to mentality. Yeah, you can say “its just some deco stuff, we have other more critical things to focus on la for the community”. Well, marginalisation starts in such small matters, is my opinion.

Taking flight: Santa’s sleigh is placed in front of Suria KLCC Lake Symphony fountain.

THE time of the year has arrived for shopping centres to go all out to usher Christmas and New Year.

Quick trips to the malls will surely get you get in the mood for Santa Claus, shiny baubles, reindeers and gifts.

Aside from giant Christmas trees decorated with colourful trinkets , most malls go the extra mile by creating eye-popping themed surroundings.

Step into “Santa’s North Park” at Berjaya Times Square where shoppers are greeted with large toy soldiers, which lined up the gantry to a 40ft Christmas tree.

The main tree is flanked by clusters of smaller trees decorated with ornaments, pine cones, berries and figs.

Shoppers can also explore the Lower Ground concourse area, done up to reflect Santa’s lush sanctuary and its magical creatures.

Meanwhile, shoppers can “watch” Santa and his elves at work in Suria KLCC.

Its decor shows Santa checking a long list of wishes with a help of a machine with exposed cogs and mechanical works.

Super trumpeteers: Large angels set to usher Christmas at Starhill Gallery.

There is also an impressive sleigh with reindeers in front of the KLCC Lake Symphony fountain while Frosty the Snowman stand guard at the Ampang Entrance and Rudolph the Reindeer is at the Park Entrance.

Mid Valley Megamall’s “All I Want for Christmas” theme saw its Centre Court transformed into a country-like atmosphere where a log cabin furnished with wreaths, a fire pit and surrounded by Christmas trees.

Patrons can also take pictures by a wooden barn complete with a watermill, hand-carved bird houses and a 40ft Christmas tree.

Over at Bangsar Village, shoppers have a glimpse into the past as mock Victorian shopfronts are constructed at the concourse area to commemorate Charles Dickens’ 200th birthday.

Meanwhile, Bangsar Village II has an unusual Christmas tree, which is made of a combination of life-sized Victorian streetlamps and 7,000 pieces of used newspaper rolled into cones to form five gigantic wreaths with giant baubles suspended from its roof.

Sparkly: The Gardens Mall puts up a white Christmas decoration with themed “Crystal Paradise”.

Inspired by medieval castles, Sungei Wang Plaza’s “The Big Band Christmas” is set to thrill shoppers with a castle where toy soldiers stand guard on balconies.

At the bottom of the stage is a fountain decorated with red poinsettia flowers while gold ribbons and Christmas trees embellished with ornaments and lights are also placed at the stage with a blizzard spray on each door to create a Christmas dream castle for shoppers.

At The Gardens Mall, shoppers can expect a white Christmas where trees made of glass are placed along the Ground Floor with sparkly chandeliers and ornaments hanging above them.

Lastly, angels take centrestage at Starhill Gallery where 29 three-metre tall angels are displayed inside the mall and at its entrance.

The decor is complemented by 1,000 decorative stars and 5,000 box fairy lights, which will be up until Jan 3, 2013.

It is indeed a season of love and joy as shoppers will find themselves immerse in the delightful mood of Christmas at the malls.

source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2012/12/14/central/12442227&sec=central

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Posted in BornInMalaysia, Indian

Tags: Culture discrimination Festival Marginalisation Religion

Treated water after 70 year wait for estate folks

October 11th, 2012

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Good news indeed. It seems after talking to the estate management in recent times, the state has been able to proceed with laying pipes and providing treated water to the families living in the estate. Not sure why the engagement never happened before.

FORTY-SIX families living in Ulu Sawah Estate in Rantau near Seremban have expressed gratitude to the state administration for providing treated water by Syarikat Air Negri Sembilan (SAINS) supplied to their homes, thus ending a seven-decade wait for clean water.

The families, who had been relying on processed river water provided by the management all these while for all their necessities, said they would no longer have to worry about water disruptions, particularly during the prolonged dry weather.

P. Gemini Dass, 48, who has been living in the estate for the past four decades, thanked Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan for keeping his promise to provide the estate folks with a consistent supply of treated water.

Overjoyed: Ulu Sawah estate folk expressing their gratitude to Mohamad for keeping his promise to provide treated water by Syarikat Air Negri Sembilan to their homes.

“Although we are located so close to Seremban, we never had access to treated water supply as we were located inside the estate. Today, we will be assured that our taps won’t run dry irrespective of the time of the day,” said the father of three.

Housewife A. Kamalam 56, was also lost for words when she saw lorries unloading huge pipes to be laid in the estate.

“My eight children will no longer have to worry if there is enough water for them to take their showers or do other chores,” said Kamalam.

Kg Kuala Sawah Village Development and Security committee chairman Ab Mutalib Sulaiman, 47, said there had been occasions when the estate folks had to do without water due to a combination of factors.

“The Mentri Besar was surprised when told that there were still some families who did not have access to piped water. He then visited the estate folks and pledged to look into their problem as soon as possible,” he said.

The affected families recently held a gathering to thank Mohamad for keeping his promise.

Mohamad, who is also Rantau assemblyman, said the estate was among eight that would receive treated water supply under phase one of a project to ensure all residents in the state had access to clean water.

“Several more estates have benefitted from this programme under the first phase. By the time the third phase is completed, all residents in the state will already have access to clean water,” he said adding that at present, there were only some Orang Asli families and those living in faraway places who did not have piped water supply.

Mohamad said there was no reason why the estate folks should not benefit from such government projects especially when they contributed significantly to the nation’s economy and wellbeing.

“The government has already introduced the minimum wage scheme for all workers and this will also benefit estate workers who had long been complaining of insufficient wages,” he said.

He said the state authorities could not do much to provide treated water to the estates previously as it could not trespass estate land to lay the pipes.

“But we engaged the estate owners this time around and they agreed to work with us for the benefit of the estate workers,” he added.

Mohamad also thanked the Federal government for the allocation given for the project through the Human Resources Ministry.

source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2012/10/6/central/12127252&sec=central