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.
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