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Badminton brings out the Malaysian in us. WHERE were you when we last won the Thomas Cup? Most Malaysians old enough to remember that famous win will be able to tell you exactly where they were when Cheah Soon Kit and Soo Beng Kiang clinched that final point against their Indonesian opponents at exactly 12.36am on May 17, 1992. On that historic day, it didn’t matter who was playing – whether it was Rashid Sidek, Foo Kok Keong or Cheah Soon Kit – Malaysians got behind the team that day, and every single one of us felt the exhilaration of winning the most prestigious prize in badminton. And that spirit of unity isn’t confined to just that moment in time. Even today, Malaysians still turn up in droves at the stadium with our kompangs and drums to support the national team, regardless of who is playing. There’s just something about badminton that flows through our Malaysian veins. It is a sport that transcends race, religion, age and gender, one that anyone and almost everyone can play. We’ve played the game with our neighbours across the front gate of their house. We’ve got more badminton halls than football fields. Whether you play the game or not, chances are if you are Malaysian, you will have at least one memory of a flying shuttlecock.

Smashing success

Home support: Malaysians turned up in full force for the semi-final between Lee Chong Wei (left) and China’s Lin Dan in this year’s Thomas Cup at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

Historically, Malaysia has always competed at the very top of the game. After all, we did win the inaugural Thomas Cup way back in 1949, and successfully defended the title until 1958 when Indonesia emerged as a badminton powerhouse. Even then, our players are still among the world’s best. But just what is it about badminton that brings Malaysians together so? Perhaps the best people to answer this question are the ones who brought us together in the first place – the players themselves. According to Datuk Eddy Choong, arguably our greatest player ever, Malaysians’ love affair with badminton goes back all the way to post-World War II times.

Cheerleading squad: Fans showing their support for the national badminton team.

“Back then, badminton was the cheapest sport we could play, because we could play it outdoors. We didn’t even need a proper court – just a sheet of cloth for the net, and shuttles!” he recalled. “It was more convenient than playing tennis or football. I remember in Penang, there would be over 100 badminton courts along a single street!” Choong, who won the All England Open men’s singles title four times between 1953 and 1957 and was part of the 1955 Malayan Thomas Cup-winning team, said that as a result, Malaysia has always been strong in badminton. “Even before we won the first ever Thomas Cup in 1949, we already had a reputation for being very good at badminton. Top players from other countries would come to Malaysia and be soundly beaten,” he said.

No.1 sport: Badminton fans come from all walks of life and will gather anywhere to watch the game together.

Malaysia has always enjoyed consistent success in the world badminton arena. Choong and other players such as Tan Aik Huang, Ng Boon Bee, and Ooi Teck Hock have racked up All England and Thomas Cup wins by the dozen in the past, while the 80s were memorable for the rise of the legendary Sidek brothers. Even today, despite China’s dominance, Malaysia still has quite a formidable roster of players, led by world No.1 Lee Chong Wei, who won the All England singles this year.

by Michael Cheang.

Read more @ http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/31/nation/6904687&sec=nation

Jumaat, a British-trained teacher. Pic: Razali

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 27 (Bernama) — Both were former teachers who made their contributions in the classrooms but had also scaled the ladder during their service with the education administration.

One was sent abroad for teachers’ training under the policy of the Federation of Malay States’ government. Before ‘Merdeka’, there was a scheme to train teachers in preparation for the expected rapid growth and progress in the schooling sector.

The other became a trainee teacher at the age of 15 years old, soon after he completed standard 6.

In order to enhance his teaching skills, he later managed to attend formal teachers’ training at the Sultan Idris Training College (SITC) under the scheme for Malay teachers.

Despite coming from different teachers’ training background, both were inculcated with the urge and determination to learn as much as possible for the benefit of their countrymen.

Datuk Jumaat Mohd Noor, a son of Batu Pahat in Johor had the opportunity to attend training at the Malayan Teachers’ Training College, Brinsford Lodge in England. He was 19 at that time.

For Mohd Nor Long, who hails from Kuala Sepetang (previously known as Port Weld), Perak, he obtained first grade in standard 6 before signing up as a ‘teacher’ with a salary of RM40. A pay that was considered ‘princely’ at that time.

VARIOUS ROLES

Mohd Nor also said teachers during the pre and post-Merdeka years had various roles to shoulder due to their ‘high position’ in the society particularly among the Malays.

They were not only into education but also fought for the interest of the Malays apart from creating their economic awareness. Teachers also fought for the country’s independence and lead the movement to glorify the Malay language.

The movement to glorify the Malay language spread to the north and south of the peninsula.

“Teachers played many roles including the setting up of cooperatives, politics and they were also involved in other activities in villages. They were also consultants in many issues,” Mohd Nor said.

QUALITY TEACHERS

During the time of Jumaat and Mohd Nor, the teaching profession was seen as ‘glamourous’ but this notion had lost its shine now.

According to Mohd Nor, a small number of teachers were after material and political gains and there were those who became teachers due to no other choices available.

“Many are conducting tuition classes in order to get extra money and only teach in schools in order to fulfill their obligations. If the students want more, then they can come to the teachers’ homes to get tuition.

“In Japan, only the best were picked to be teachers as compared to our country where the teaching profession is the last career choice for some people.

“Teaching which used to be a noble profession is now only a rhetoric,” Mohd Nor, who went into writing before and after retiring from the service, voiced his opinion.

Jumaat said what matters most is whether the teachers can give some touches to the subject by saying:”this is beneficial in our society” or by giving comments that could create awareness.

“The same thing should be done by others including language, arts and history teachers. A good teacher will become the role model for the students,” he said.

BETTER TEACHERS

Teachers now should be better as many of them have high ‘qualifications on paper’ including at the diploma and degree level.

Like what Jamal said, it is proper if the education quality is on par with the handsome income and high qualification of the teachers.

He said the ‘classical’ teachers are those close to books and knowledge. Furthermore there are more tools and facilities now to further education such as the internet facility.

“Teachers must love education and this should be done throughout the lifetime as children now are more clever and brilliant. This should be coupled with the care of the students. Teachers should not be too stiff and passive apart from not taking care of their students,” he said.

Teachers should also be the mentor for their students apart from having the passion for the their profession, said Jumaat, who was named the Johor teaching personality in 1976 and received the national-level Exemplary Teacher Award in 1977.

by Melati Mohd. Ariff.

Read more @ http://education.bernama.com/index.php?sid=news_content&id=524448

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 (Bernama) — In the pre-Merdeka years, teachers were among those ‘vocal’ in demanding the nation’s independence from the British colonialists.

At that time, the Malays saw teachers as an elite group that also brought a change to the life of the Malay community who were then stifled by the British colonial masters that practised the divide and rule concept among the population.

“As early as in mid 19th century, schools that provide education to the Malays began to mushroom and the schools were the early institutions built to meet the colonialists’ obligations based on the agreement that they made with the Malay rulers.

“There were many of such schools in Penang and later in the Federated Malay States, followed by that in the Unfederated Malay States,” Datuk Omar Hashim, the Executive Committee Chairman for Malaysian Historical Society (PSM) told Bernama recently.

The Federated Malay States were Pahang, Perak. Selangor and Negeri Sembilan while the Unfederated Malay States were Johor, Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah and Perlis.

RESPECTED GROUP

According to Omar, teachers in the pre- and post-Merdeka years were highly respected by the society.

Teachers in that era were the only ones who were literate and able to communicate. They had the knowledge and were seen as being ‘noble’ by the Malay society who lacked almost everything, he said.

At the time when the government undertook massive land development projects including that in Sabah for the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda), schools were among the early institutions built.

Another institution built that symbolised modernisation was the health clinic, he said.

Using the schools as their base, the teachers were active in convincing the Malay community to accept the changes.

“Teachers were those who spread the love for education and with the backing of the health clinics, they taught among the easiest of things such as keeping good body hygiene and remaining healthy,” said Omar.

He said teachers in the pre-Merdeka years were trained locally such as in the teachers’ training institutes including the Matang Malay Training College (MLMM), Melaka Teachers’ Training College (MPM) and Sultan Idris Training College (SITC).

INITIATORS OF NEW THINKING

Before Merdeka, teachers were generally seen as the ‘torch bearer’ in education and also for bringing the changes.

Even though their number then was not big as now as there were only 50 to 60 teachers who came into service each year, they were seen as the ’saviour’ to the society.

According to Omar, the Malays then could only dream of studying up to the level of the teachers’ training colleges and no higher.

“Then, there were no high schools for the Malays. Schools for them were only at the primary level and only those who scored excellent results could move on to the training colleges such as the SITC.

“Hence these were the people who we can label as the initiators of new thinking in the society. They were religious too.

BECAME LEADERS

As the teachers then were equipped with knowledge and exposure on independence and they knew the feelings of the suffering Malays, they ultimately became leaders in their respective communities.

They became strong supporters of Malay political parties including Umno.

“Among them were (Tun) Ghafar Baba, (Tan Sri) Senu Abdul Rahman, (Tan Sri) Khir Johari, (Tan Sri) Aziz Tapa, Cikgu Borhan and many others.

PRESENT, FUTURE GENERATIONS

It is not an overstatement to say that teachers have played a sterling and strategic role in the growth and expansion of social, mental and political dimensions of the Malays.

Omar said in the profession’s early days in the country, the teachers were limited to basic knowledge but their spirit proved to be overwhelmingly strong in bringing education to the Malays.

“Salute for the teachers. They were like the ‘unsung heroes’ but had played the major role in developing and moulding the nation’s education sector.

“The great effort by this group needs continuity by the present and future generations,” added Omar.

by Melati Mohd. Ariff, BERNAMA.

Read more @ http://education.bernama.com/index.php?sid=news_content&id=524139

MALAYSIAN secondary schools with histories stretching before the 20th century would almost always be associated with a glorious British colonial past, a bastion of Englishness studded with a lot more than its snooty elitism.

There’s always a distinctiveness embedded in students studying in such institutions, and that superiority lingers long after they depart.

The perks of studying in such schools, provided that the students absorb all there is to be taught and instructed, are multi-faceted and multi-discipline, from sports to societies to uniformed groups. Some schools are so special that they have two Scouting outfits, junior and senior laboratories, junior and senior libraries, a swimming pool, synthetic track and a field that could accommodate football, rugby and hockey simultaneously, plus every conceivable student society to address the minutest interest.

That’s why they are extra special, these British-inspired schools. And that is why, in the past decade, that Britishness had steadily eroded to the point that what made them special in the first place is now a blissful memory rekindled by alumni association reunions, historical book immortalisation and the occasional media profile.

Studying in a British-inspired school laden with historical milestones is now like studying in any government school. That desire for every school to play on a level playing field has somewhat been achieved. It doesn’t matter if you send your kids to study in Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Ulu Tiram (no disrespect to this fine school) or in Victoria Institution (VI). Extraordinariness has been converted into predictable conventionalism.

After a century or so of becoming the top guns of secondary schools, the colonial concomitant so distinguishable in these schools have been drained, the teachers all look and think alike and chances are the students look and think alike, too, in and out of school.

Academically, the top gun schools are lagging behind the bookworms in the rural, unfashionable schools, a characteristic first observed in 2006 when the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia results revealed a major power shift, that the top gun schools have been ignominiously dethroned.

The neo-socialism of Malaysian government schools must have begun when the education authorities felt that all schools should have a bland-sounding name: venerable premier names like Victoria Institution or St John’s Institution suddenly carried the collective prefix SMK.

SMK Victoria does not sound as hallowed as Victoria Institution.

Even the banal “SMK Victoria” name was getting on the nerves of some dogmatic nationalist/religionist educationist: some years back, an attempt to erase the Victoria name and replace it with the nondescript “SMK Jalan Hang Tuah” was met with derision so contemptuous that the school captain was compelled to lead his schoolmates to the school’s quadrangle to stage a silent protest.

Victoria Institution wasn’t the only target. Apparently La Salle Petaling Jaya was to mutate into SM Jalan Chantek!

by Azmi Anshar.

Read more @ http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/12vic/Article

TENOM: Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan said any confusion over the hotly debated subject of dates for Independence Day and Malaysia Day can be cleared by referring back to the history of Malaysia.

The Parti Bersatu Sabah president said it is necessary to have a firm grasp of the country’s history in order to get facts right as many people are confused over whether the nation has reached its 47th or 53rd year of independence.

But he insisted there is nothing to be confused about as both numbers refer to two different historical facts.

“When we talk about independence, we’re actually referring to the Tanah Melayu independence and Sabah independence both of which are two different historical facts,” he clarified during the party’s Melalap division annual general meeting held here yesterday.

The seasoned politician further explained that Tanah Melayu (Peninsular Malaysia) gained independence on August 31, 1957 and for this reason Malaysians in the peninsula are correct to say that this year marks the 53rd Year of Independence.

However, it is also historically correct for Malaysians in Sabah to say it is the 47th Year of Independence this year in reference to a moment in history when the State gained independence from the British.

He stressed that many are still ignorant of the actual date when Sabah gained independence and became a sovereign nation for 16 days.

“Sabah gained independence on August 31, 1963 and from then on it ruled as a sovereign nation for 16 days before deciding to join Sarawak, Singapore and Tanah Melayu to form Malaysia on September 16, 1963,” he said.

As such he said there should be no confusion over the dates and blamed certain parties for blowing the whole issue out of proportion to serve their political interest.

He called on all Malaysians to get their historical facts right in order to really appreciate the meaning of independence.

In relation to this, he described this year’s Malaysia Day celebration as special following the government’s decision to accord it a national holiday on September 16.

“When we celebrate Malaysia Day and raise the Malaysian flag, we commemorate the 47th year since the birth of this nation,” he said.

Read more @ http://www.newsabahtimes.com.my/nstweb/fullstory/41328

KOTA KINABALU: It is such a shame that many Malaysians today do not even know when and how Malaysia was born.

A master’s degree student writing a thesis who is not aware how Malaysia came into being on Sept 16, 1963, a university professor who is equally ignorant of the date, a student who thought Sabah joined Malaysia instead of forming it as an equal partner.

Such ignorance is not uncommon among the citizens today, according to former SUHAKAM vice president Tan Sri Simon Sipaun.

“It is said that history is subject to interpretation. I have also been told that history repeats itself. However, there are also occasions when history is the distortion of facts by people in power,” said Sipaun who is also a former Sabah State secretary.

Sharing his personal recollection at the Formation of Malaysia Forum here yesterday, where he attended as a moderator as well as speaker, Sipaun said while some were simply misinformed, there were others who knew very well that Malaysia was born in 1963 and not 1957 but still insisted the opposite.

“I have been noticing slogans like ‘celebrating 53 years of nationhood’. The question that comes to mind is which nation is being referred to. If it refers to Malaysia then obviously it is not factual because in 2010 Malaysia is only 47 years old. If you refer to Malaya then it will be correct.

However, Malaya ceased to be an independent separate nation when it joined with Singapore, Sarawak, and Sabah to form a new federation known as Malaysia on 16 Sept 1963.

Fifty three cannot be equal to 47 unless we have forgotten how to count. I do not understand why we cannot be honest about something which is impossible to deny,” he said.

Read more @ http://www.newsabahtimes.com.my/nstweb/fullstory/41067

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali crossing Penang Bridge in a Proton Saga during the launch of Malaysia’s national car and the bridge in 1985.

FOUR Malaysian icons are having glorious landmark birthdays now. Five if you count this newspaper.

At 165, the New Straits Times is the oldest newspaper still in circulation in Malaysia. But never too old or dinky to share these illustrious milestones with Maybank (which is 50), Proton (25), the Penang Bridge (25), and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (85).

Dr Mahathir, the country’s fourth prime minister, celebrated his latest birthday on Saturday and as always, doesn’t look his age. His resplendent and remarkable background as medical doctor, politician, leader and statesman makes him an institution; a living legend.
Though his “official birthday”, as registered by his father, was Dec 20 1925, July 10 has always been Dr Mahathir’s real birthday. The man is even older than the Fifa World Cup (which is only 80) — and certainly no less popular. And, judging by his post-retirement presence, he is strong and influential as ever.

Dr Mahathir’s legacy, Proton, is passing a threshold, in the midst of programmes commemorating its silver jubilee — which is charmingly significant and alluringly profound for the father-and-son affinity between the carmaker and the elder statesman.

Every grown-up Malaysian knows about Proton. He or she would have had at least an experience with a Proton car, either as a driver or passenger. And everyone at any given moment knows at least another Proton owner, whether a neighbour, a cousin or friend’s friend.
And many Malaysians still remember 1985, the year the first Proton Saga rolled out, and how proud an occasion it was. The image of Dr Mahathir, the prime minister then, driving across the Penang Bridge in a red Proton Saga on Aug 3 and giving a thumbs-up (presumably for the momentous inauguration of both car and bridge) will be forever etched in our memory.

by Syed Nazri.

Read more @ http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/17bday/Article/

LAST week, Persyarikatan Muhammadiyah celebrated its 100th year of existence, using the Hijrah calendar. The second biggest Muslim organisation in the largest Muslim nation was established in 1912 in Jogjakarta. It claims to have 29 million members, second only to Nahdatul Ulama. But Muhammadiyah has impacted upon the religious, social and political lives of Indonesians in various ways over the past 10 decades.

In turbulent times like these, not only Indonesia but the Muslim world also needs a Muhammadiyah. It is a calming voice amidst the call for militancy, a moderating force in the civilisational clash between Islam and the West, and the acceptable face of tolerant Islam.

According to renowned Indonesian scholar Dr Azyumardi Azra, Muhammadiyah is built on two principles: a religious ormas (organisasi massa or mass movement) that is rooted in religion as a vehicle to achieve a civil society, and the principle of wasyatiyyah (the middle path).
For that, it has gained many friends and admirers. It is not an easy route when the Muslim world is engulfed in anger and despair. Despair among Muslims is an understatement in Indonesia. There are simply too many issues bedeviling them. Poverty is one and economic representation is another. But more importantly is the feeling of helplessness among Muslims as they watch their brethren being invaded, attacked and marginalised in other parts of the world.

Indonesia could easily be a breeding ground for radicalism had organisations like Muhammadiyah and Nahdatul Ulama played to the gallery. Luckily for Indonesia, the two largest Muslim groups are never in support of militancy and violence. In fact, they condemn terrorism in whatever form. Sadly, this fact is lost in translation when Western observers discuss religious groupings in the Muslim world. The wasyatiyyah principle is never adequately explained. Most would lump Muslim movements under one category — that they are all hotbeds for Islamic fundamentalism.

Education has always been the core of Muhammadiyah activism. In fact, when K.H. Ahmad Dhalan founded the movement, he cared more about the education of pribumi (indigenous people) than anything else. Ahmad Dhalan (born in 1868) was an Islamic scholar trained in Saudi Arabia. It was in the Middle East that he was exposed to the ideas of “reformist” Muslims like Muhammad Abduh, Jamaluddin al Afghani and Muhammad Rashid Ridha. These thinkers bucked the trend, questioning the age-old wisdom of conservative ulama. Their thinking spread like wildfire in the Muslim world, igniting new discourses among the young and pitting the reformists against the traditionalists.

by Johan Jaafar.

Read more @ http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/21muha/Article/

KOTA KINABALU: There was a touch of sadness in the atmosphere as families and friends came to commemorate the Double Six tragedy at its monument in Sembulan, yesterday.

Former chief minister Datuk Harris Salleh was among those who came to pay their respect in commemorating the 34th anniversary of the Double Six tragedy yesterday.

“Visiting this place, I do feel sad because I have lost so many good friends with whom I wish I could have worked especially Tun Fuad, who had many ideas and was a true people’s leader. It is very hard to find a leader like him.

“Datuk Peter Mojuntin was also my dear friend and we had shared many memories together.

While speaking to the media after the ceremony, Harris recalled how he and Peter would have meetings up to 3am just to solve Sabah’s problems at the time.

“It was something like taking care of a child. When a child is still an infant, there will be lots of problems. Once he grows up, the problems would slowly disappear,” he shared.

The anniversary, however, was not all sadness as families and friends of the Double Six victims were enlightened to witness the official opening of the Double Six Gallery that was erected just a stone’s throw away from the Monument.

Toh Puan Rahimah Stephen, wife of the late Tun Fuad was given the honour to officially open the 4,000 square foot gallery dedicated to providing information on the tragedy that wiped out half of Sabah’s cabinet members at the time.

“I feel that this gallery is something that is very good, not only to the families of the victims but also for everyone because this is our history.

“A million thanks goes out to the state government and everyone who has worked hard to make this gallery a reality,” said Rahimah while speaking to reporters during the ceremony.

Also present during the ceremony was Assistant Finance Minister Donald Peter Mojuntin who is the eldest son of former State Local Government Minister Datuk Peter Mojuntin, another victim of the Double Six tragedy.

“Our history must remind our people of how hard our early leaders fought to achieve freedom for all of us.

“A gallery like this is a very good way to do that,” said Donald who also thanked Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Datuk Edward Khoo and City Hall.

A tall monument now stands on the particular location where the Australian-designed Nomad aircraft crashed, dubbed the Double Six Monument, erected right in the heart of the City, to remind the people of the painful memory.

The plane, operated by Sabah Air, coming from Labuan crashed in the sub-district of Sembulan here upon approaching the Kota Kinabalu International Airport.

Not even a single person survived the crash, including Tun Mohammad Fuad Stephens, the Sabah Chief Minister at that time.

He played a fundamental role in the formation of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963.

Fuad held the Chief Minister’s post until 1964, and again on the year he perished in the crash.

His body was laid to rest at the State Mausoleum near the Sabah State Mosque, Kota Kinabalu.

He was also the first Huguan Siou or Paramount Leader of the Kadazandusun community.

The other passengers were Local Government Minister Datuk Peter Mojuntin, Communications and Works Minister Datuk Chong Thain Vun, Finance Minister Datuk Salleh Sulong, Assistant Minister to the Deputy Chief Minister Darius Binion and Fuad’s eldest son, Johari.

Apart from the Cabinet ministers, six others included Finance Ministry permanent secretary Datuk Wahid Peter Andau, Sabah Economic Planning Unit director Dr Syed Hussein Wafa, the Private Secretary to Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Ishak Atan, Fuad’s bodyguard Corporal Mohammad Said, and the aircraft pilot Captain Gandhi Nathan.

Source:

http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=35204