Breaking barriers: Malay student scores top marks at Chinese-medium school
The Saito Graduate School director, who hails from Kedah, said growing up in Peninsular Malaysia shaped his awareness of ethnic silos in schools and social circles.
That experience, he said, led him and his wife to choose a different path for their children.
"I started by placing them in mixed kindergartens, then in SK St Simon Fung, and finally SM Tshung Tsin. It felt like the natural choice," he told the media after his son, Mohammad Arif, received the Sabah Excellence Scholarship during a ceremony at the Sabah International Convention Centre here.
The father of four, who spent over two decades at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) as an academician, said Sabah's social fabric was a stark contrast to what he was accustomed to in the peninsula.
"In Peninsular Malaysia, we talk about 'masyarakat majmuk' (plural society) but ethnic boundaries are still very clear. In Sabah, those lines are blurred. People interact more freely across communities.
"I want them to have a mixed background, rather than having all Malay friends. They should mix with others and see other cultures.
"I think Sabah is still the best place to do that," he said, adding that his wife, who is an accountant, is of Chinese descent.
Asked about language barriers at SM Tshung Tsin, Mohammad Adam said his son adapted well as his Chinese friends were helpful.
For 18-year-old Mohammad Arif, studying in a Chinese-medium school was once a daunting experience.
But after years of adapting, he not only thrived but emerged among the top students in Sabah by scoring 9A+ and 1A in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).
"At first it didn't feel good because I was adapting to a new environment. Language was a challenge.
"But after a couple of years, especially after Covid-19 settled down, I managed to get a grip, do better in classes and be more social.
"For a long time, I didn't know what to do, but after SPM I sat down and thought about it properly. That's when I realised this is the path I want," he said, adding that he aims to become a chemical engineer by pursuing A-Levels before applying to a university in the UK or Australia.
The young student, who also represented his school in football, said his success was the result of both the school's strong academic system and his personal determination.
"The system is good enough for me to get through it, and I added my own effort."
Mohammad Arif was among 117 students who received scholarships from the state government.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
Interview: China leading in wetland preservation, says Wetlands International CEO
VICTORIA FALLS, Zimbabwe, July 25 (Xinhua) -- China is playing a leading role in the global wetland preservation agenda, Wetlands International Chief Executive Officer Coenraad Krijger said Friday. In an interview with Xinhua on the sidelines of the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP15) underway in the resort city of Victoria Falls in the Matabeleland North Province of Zimbabwe, Krijger acknowledged China's efforts in wetland preservation, following the accreditation of nine more Chinese cities as wetland cities at COP15 on Thursday. "Indeed, if you look across the world, China has taken a leadership position in doing the right thing for wetlands," he said. "The biggest number of wetland cities in the world is in China, and leading the COP, having these mangrove centers, and having strong policies already in place, and big restoration actions, so I think China is leading." China is home to a significant portion of the world's important wetlands, which highlights the importance of the country's efforts in investing in wetland preservation. "Through the trade relations that China has, and the investments that China has all over the world, (China) is also connected to (other) very important wetlands worldwide," Krijger said. COP15, which officially opened on Thursday, is running under the theme of "Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future," bringing together representatives of governments to strengthen international commitments for wetland conservation and to highlight the vital role of wetlands in sustaining ecological health, biodiversity, and climate resilience. Krijger said platforms such as the Ramsar Convention must continue to amplify the need to preserve wetlands and enhance mutual learning. The Ramsar Convention, named after the Iranian city of Ramsar where the convention was signed in 1971, is an intergovernmental agreement dedicated to the conservation and rational use of wetland ecosystems. Krijger said that Wetland International, a global not-for-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and restoration of wetlands, has worked with China in supporting wetland preservation efforts for many years. "It is really important that any country steps up and takes their wetlands seriously. Wetlands are easy targets for all kinds of developments, such as real estate and harbors. So strong legislation and strong policies are very much needed to counteract the attractiveness of wetlands," he said. "I think we can learn a lot from the Chinese efforts and bring that to the rest of the world. And also, we could perhaps be facilitating exchange and joint learning across our network," Krijger said. While development is welcome, he said, there is a need to maintain a balance between development and the health of wetlands. "This is a key challenge because, on the one hand, people want to live near or in wetlands because of the water and all the benefits it brings. At the same time, if the development is not done in the right way, that will diminish, at least in the long run, but sometimes even in the short run." Krijger said he is eager to visit Chinese wetland cities in the future to learn how they achieve urban development while reaping the benefits of preserving the wetlands.
The Star
10 hours ago
- The Star
China tenant finds school desk he used 33 years ago in new flat
SHANGHAI (SCMP): A man in eastern China who rented a flat and discovered an old desk he used at school 33 years ago has trended on mainland social media. The man, surnamed Shen, rented the flat near Huaiyin High School in Huaian, Jiangsu province in early July, the Jiangnan Metropolis News reported. His family is set to move there so that it will be convenient for his son to attend school. When Shen and his wife were cleaning the house, they found a small and shabby school desk, one side of which carried the Chinese characters 'Qing' and 'Zhong' and the serial number 246. That mark led Shen to believe that the desk was the one he used at Qingjiang Middle School in 1992. 'Qing Zhong' is the abbreviation for Qingjiang Middle School. 'I remember the number 246 very clearly because the desk used by a good friend of mine was marked with the number 135,' Shen was quoted as saying. 'I was so thrilled to see this desk. At that moment, many happy hours during my middle school life instantly appeared in my mind. What a coincidence!' he said. According to Shen's landlord, Qingjiang Middle School was renovated years ago and its old desks were put up for sale. The landlord bought this desk because most of his tenants are families with children who need to study. 'My alma mater used to be a top institution. It is a pity that it has declined and is not as glorious as before,' said Shen, adding: 'I hope my old school can become better and better.' He said he hoped the landlord could give him the desk as a souvenir when the lease period ends. The story struck a chord with millions of people in China, attracting 15 million views on one major platform alone. 'It is full of memories. No wonder the man feels so excited,' said one internet user. 'I also used this type of school desk. My school is also on the downturn. Many of my teachers have died. This made me feel emotional!' said another person. While another online observer joked: 'Life is so magical. If the desk could speak it might be saying, 'Kid, you have grown up and you have your own kid'.' - South China Morning Post
The Star
12 hours ago
- The Star
Heart And Soul: More than just a cat
To the writer, her cat was more than just a pet, he was family. — Photo: Freepik Do you have any real-life, heart-warming stories to share with readers? We'd love to hear from you. Please keep your story within 900 words. Photos are optional and should be in JPEG format (file size about 1MB, with caption and photo credit). There is no payment for stories, and we reserve the right to edit all submissions. Email your story to: heartandsoul@ with the subject "Heart and Soul". I Knew he was mine the moment I looked into his eyes. Five years ago, in the northern Malaysian state of Perlis, I found a tiny, scrawny creature in a hospital drain. I brought him home, fearing the next downpour would sweep him away. He was only meant to stay one night. One night became a week. Though I told myself it was temporary, I named him. I even sent black cat name ideas to my best friends – but I'd already made my choice. He was Bagheera. My little black panther. No bigger than my palm, he nestled in my hands as I sang his name in a lullaby made up on the spot. At first, I told myself he'd stay until he could fend for himself. Then, I told myself I'd leave him behind once I was transferred back to my home state in southern Malaysia. But when the time came, I realised I'd been lying all along. I couldn't leave him – no more than I could carve out my own heart and leave it behind. Bagheera never left my side. As I moved around the country for work, training to be a psychiatrist, from one hospital to another – he followed. My shadow. My little spitfire in black fur. He slept on my legs – unless he was sulking in the laundry basket after being told off. He knew I'd always come to apologise. He arrived at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, when I was 800 kilometres from home, working relentless shifts. The isolation was crushing. He saved my sanity. Later, he saved my life – during a time when bullying at work pushed me to the brink. I stayed alive for him. He was my warmth, my anchor – my reason. When I was offered a job in London, it wasn't easy to leave him behind – him and his sibling, Aarav. I couldn't find a rental that allowed pets. It took time to find a vet I trusted enough to leave my children with. Eventually, I did – kind, careful, thorough. Bagheera spent the final year of his life living at the vet's practice while I made plans for our reunion. That year, he was diagnosed with feline bronchial asthma. The vet assured me it was manageable. Still, as a doctor and a mother, I worried – reading journals, calculating risks. But mortality rates were low. I took comfort in that. Until Friday, June 27. At 3.40am British time, a text came through: 'Are you awake?' My phone had been on Do Not Disturb. I shouldn't have woken. But I did. I replied: yes. An hour later, the phone rang. The vet didn't say hello. He said, 'Bad news.' By the time my mind restarted, he had already finished – in Tamil: 'Bagheera is dead.' I hung up. By 9am, I was buying plane tickets – obscenely expensive – planning my journey home. I flew 22,000 kilometres in 24 hours, just to say goodbye. To cradle him one last time. Some asked, 'For a cat?' I said, 'A family member died.' And that was the truth. This isn't just a story about a cat. It's about the kind of love that saves us – and the kind of grief we're asked to hide.
