— Dr W. Vinita Perera
The Malaysian Insider
Dec 18, 2011
DEC 18 — I wish to bring to your attention the deep concern being conveyed, regarding the approach taken in the recent appointment of the new principal at SM Convent Bukit Nanas, Kuala Lumpur. Before this is turned into yet another debacle of ethnicity and creed by any quarter, I look forward to your timely and wise intervention to resolve the matter objectively.
The points of contestation are as follows:
The FT Education Department is in gross breach of the terms stated in the revised Royal Commission on Teaching Services Report which reads: “The assignment and deployment of teachers for these schools, especially the head teacher, should be done only after consultation between the personnel management authority and the boards of these schools”.
Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad reaffirmed and pledged that the government would honour this, to consult mission school authorities over the choice of school heads and teachers, at a meeting with the Heads of Churches in Kota Kinabalu in 1998.
In this case — all parties involved — The Board of Governors, Parents Teachers Association and the Old Girls Association were all in the dark about this appointment. The recommendation submitted was completely disregarded.
I am sure you are aware SM Convent Bukit Nanas is a mission school. The mission schools in Malaysia are owned by the mission authorities but operations are now managed entirely by the federal government. This, however, does not preclude a break in the terms of the pre-agreed contract and it is not merely unlawful, but extremely insensitive, offensive and disrespectful to all parties involved that the appointment was made at the autocratic discretion of the FT Education Department, with no consultation of the members in this decision-making process.
This move is perceived as a threat and a means of undermining the community which promulgate the ethos of excellence in education behind these schools.
There is no contestation regarding the academic qualifications and experience of the nominee in question whatsoever, and I am sure many of us symphatise with the nominee for being caught in the crossfire.
Having Puan Sharifah Bt. Ibrahim as one of my beloved principals during my time in Convent Bukit Nanas, I can attest that there is no ethnic or creed motivation behind this uproar. There is only the outcry of disbelief at the less than adequate handling, short-sightedness and inefficiency of the FT Education Department in seeking the input of key stakeholders, symptomatic of cutting corners.
This lack of foresight has the ability to incite racial-religious tension and burgeon into something much bigger. The person involved should be held absolutely accountable and taken to task.
I look forward to your objective intervention toward a diplomatic recourse. A healthy dose of accountability by the FT Education Department with a formal apology, should reinstate our confidence in your ministry.
Simple in Virtue, Steadfast in Duty,
Dr. W. Vinita Perera DVM, MRCVS,
An old girl Convent Bukit Nanas,
Colorado, USA
#1 by monsterball on Sunday, 18 December 2011 - 1:30 pm
They break very promise and change the rules to dominate all.
They will give every cock and bull reasons to do this or that.
Bukit Nanas Convent have hundreds of millions in terms of land and money….mostly left over in a will by someone to will to…except their churches.
Where there is millions…UMNO b crooks need to find out…how to use them….to feed their crooks.
#2 by cintanegara on Sunday, 18 December 2011 - 5:00 pm
DAP always claim …they are race-blind…..If one is poor, he or she will deserve assistance, regardless of race, religion or creed….if one is qualified, he or she will deserve the position…bla bla bla…
One of DAP’s mission statement is ‘Offering equal access and opportunity’….Now Malaysians don’t see why DAP complain so much about the appointment….When something doesn’t seem to favor DAP….hmmmm …they will twist their words f..how to trust DAP??? Cakap tak serupa bikin….
#3 by isahbiazhar on Sunday, 18 December 2011 - 7:57 pm
If all non Malay students and Malay sympathisers take off and protest for this cause it might bring some sense to the government.
#4 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Sunday, 18 December 2011 - 8:55 pm
“Open letter to Education Minister over CBN”
Does this Minister even care 2 hoots?
History tells us he is a lackadaisical, couldn’t-care-less, beggar-thy-neighbour sort of minister.
The sooner UMNO is put out of business, the better for malaysian education
#5 by Cinapek on Monday, 19 December 2011 - 12:08 am
If this BN Govt can even amend the Constitution to suit its ends, what is a little renegading on a pledge to a school?
This is naked “ketuanan” at its best. Ride roughshod over any pledge or respect for any agreements. And if you protest, you are accused of challenging the rights of the ketuanans and their religion and provoking them.
#6 by k1980 on Monday, 19 December 2011 - 3:00 am
Get rid of cintanegara’s pisang and rambutans and perform a sex change on him, so that he can be appointed the new principal of CBN
#7 by Loh on Monday, 19 December 2011 - 3:25 pm
///The points of contestation are as follows:
The FT Education Department is in gross breach of the terms stated in the revised Royal Commission on Teaching Services Report which reads: “The assignment and deployment of teachers for these schools, especially the head teacher, should be done only after consultation between the personnel management authority and the boards of these schools”.
Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad reaffirmed and pledged that the government would honour this, to consult mission school authorities over the choice of school heads and teachers, at a meeting with the Heads of Churches in Kota Kinabalu in 1998.
In this case — all parties involved — The Board of Governors, Parents Teachers Association and the Old Girls Association were all in the dark about this appointment. The recommendation submitted was completely disregarded.///–Dr.W
This is Najib’s give and take; the government gives promise but never takes responsibility to honour the promise given.
It might be possible that the little Napoleon did not realize the procedures in the matter, but the government invariably support the little Napoleon. Nearing election days, the government fears the little Napoleons, and they have to prove to the Malay community that they protect the race because civil service in Malaysia is Malay services.
In a Hard Talk programme with BBC Mamakthir justified NEP in stating that it started by his predecessor. Cornered by the host that he had 22 years to change it, Mamakthir said that NEP was needed; clearly that did not jive with the earlier justification!. The governments only wants to win an argument and it cares not if that is illogical.
#8 by raven77 on Monday, 19 December 2011 - 4:11 pm
Actually the church should take the rap for their culture of appeasement to the UMNO Education Ministry….
For years the church stood for principles all around the world….but in Malaysia, the Bishop appears to have lost his nuts, brains and courage….
Every missionary school in Malaysia sits on church land, if they dont play by the rules, just take the schools private..
Take a cue from the Chinese who stand steadfast by their Chinese schools…
The Church in Malaysia, like UMNO, is hopelessly corrupted and an absolute disgrace !
Every missionary school / catholic land on whose land the schools stand including CBN will now risk the way BBGS became Pavilion….
Goodbye CBN….beginning of the end….