A guiding hand: Sabah retiree spends her mornings teaching stateless kids
She did not think much of it at first, thinking that they were either waiting for the afternoon school session or playing truant.
After several weeks, she asked them why they were not in school.
'It was only then that I realised they were stateless and could not attend school owing to a lack of documents,' said the 68-year-old, who asked to be identified only as Leong, when met recently.
In her heart, she said, she felt as if she were being nudged towards extending a helping hand.
Eventually, this turned into informal learning sessions for the children, aged seven to 12.
More than six years later, Leong continues to spend her mornings teaching stateless children their ABCs, counting, simple arithmetic, some Chinese and Bahasa Malaysia, and even singing.
As a result, some manage to memorise the alphabet from A to Z, count from one to 10, sing simple songs, say their names in English, and respond to greetings.
'I feel that life has been unfair to these innocents. They did not ask to be born stateless or without documents.
'As a mother, it breaks my heart that they have to go through the cycle of being born, left to fend for themselves, grow into adults who basically can't read, write or count, and just have to run all the time,' Leong said.
She hoped the basic lessons she imparts could be a starting point for them to develop their knowledge and find jobs.
'I have friends who know about what I do, so they give me their children's or grandchildren's used bags, stationery and books to share,' she said.
Sometimes, these sessions can last up to two hours, but most of the time, they would span 30 minutes to an hour because of short attention spans, she added.
"It is quite difficult to get them to focus but sometimes, when they are in the mood, they will stay for up to two hours," she said, adding that she occasionally uses candy and other treats to hold the children's attention.
"Just so that they would listen and spend a little bit more effort learning,' she said.
Given their families' constant movements, she said some children would stop coming after a while, but newcomers would take their place.
'I hope the community will have more sympathy for these children, and for the government to have a strong will to solve this issue because children are the future leaders of this nation,' she said.
She urged the authorities to provide these children with the same opportunities as citizens, because they had potentially just as much to contribute to society as the more privileged.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
Six Chinese university students drown on mine field trip in Inner Mongolia
Six university students drowned in an industrial tank during a field trip to a mining operation owned by China's most prestigious gold producing company, according to state news agency Xinhua. One teacher was also injured in the incident, which occurred on Wednesday morning at China National Gold Group's Wunugetushan copper-molybdenum mine in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, it said. The students, from Northeastern University in Liaoning province, drowned after a grating panel gave way and they fell into a flotation tank. They were pulled from the tank in the mine's processing plant, but could not be revived, according to Xinhua. The report did not give further details about the victims or the incident. State broadcaster CCTV said the regional government would launch an investigation into the incident. According to the official Jimu News in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, the victims were in their third year and majoring in mineral processing engineering. The report quoted an unnamed student who had previously visited the plant as saying the flotation tank was more than 10 metres (33 feet) tall and filled with slurry – 'similar to a mudslide'. Flotation tanks separate minerals from mined ore, with the targeted minerals attaching to bubbles that float to the surface. The structure is usually made of metal, plastic or wood and features a grating panel. 'There are usually only 20 to 30 employees in the flotation area, but when students and teachers come to visit, the number often exceeds that of the staff present,' the student was quoted as saying. In a statement on Thursday, China National Gold Group confirmed the fatalities, offering condolences for the victims and apologies to the public. The company is the only central state-owned firm in China's gold industry, and was the first Chinese board member of the World Gold Council, according to the company. The company owns 48 mines and six smelters in China and abroad, including in Africa, Kyrgyzstan and Russia. Quoting a company staff member, state-run China News Weekly reported that operations had stopped at the plant for an investigation. It said the deceased students were from the university's school of resources and civil engineering. According to a post on its social media account on February 25, the Wunugetushan mine had 'successfully completed' replacement of the grating panels. The plant also said in an online post on July 11 that it had just held a safety production meeting reviewing the first half of the year. The company had 'consistently insisted on a balanced approach to coordinate development and safety' and 'safe production was always the top priority', it said. A 2021 article published on the company's social media account said its Inner Mongolia plant had won the 'recognition and affirmation' of Northeastern University as an 'Excellent Practical Education Base' for students to gain industry exposure. It said 50 mining engineering students from the university visited the company's plant every July to 'put their theoretical knowledge into practice' via the on-site teaching programme. Calls to various departments at the university went unanswered. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
Borneo Post
8 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Rotary Club launches English Corner at SMK Benoni to promote literacy and lifelong learning
From left to right: Datin Phyllis Lo, Soo Yuen Mee, Datuk Eliza Goh, Tulip Noorazyze, Tuan Hi Ikhbal Khan Ismail, Datin Dr Jeanette Tambakau, Chendramata Sinteh, Datin Rocy Chong, Caroline Paxton and Dr Julia Ongkili at the English Corner. PAPAR (July 26): In a collaborative effort to enhance English literacy among students, the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu Pearl officially launched the SMK Benoni English Corner on Friday, marking another milestone under its flagship initiative — Project REAL (Rural-Focused English for All). The launch was graced by Club President Datin Dr Jeanette Tambakau, who commended SMK Benoni principal Tuan Haji Ikhbal Khan for his visionary initiative in establishing the English Corner. 'Setting up the English Corner is truly an inspired idea from Ikhbal. We applaud his commitment to cultivating the reading habit and improving English proficiency among students,' said Jeanette. To support the initiative, the Club donated over 500 English storybooks and 350 bilingual dictionaries — a gesture of appreciation to Ikhbal for his past contributions to Project REAL during his tenure as deputy director of the Language Unit in the Sabah State Education Department. While Project REAL initially targeted primary schools in rural areas, the Club is excited to see the concept extended to secondary schools. 'Learning, developing and mastering a language is a lifelong journey. We're encouraged by SMK Benoni's proactive approach in continuing this process beyond the primary level,' she added. A heartfelt tribute was paid to Project Chair Rotarian Tulip Zaimi Noorazyze bt Abdul Rahim, who has led the expansion of Project REAL across Sabah with unwavering dedication. 'Tulip has been the heartbeat of this programme—coordinating visits, distributing materials, and working closely with education offices. Her leadership has made a profound impact,' said Jeanette. Tulip is supported by a dedicated REAL Team, comprising Vice President Datuk Eliza Goh, Immediate Past President Hajah Chendramata Hj Sinteh, Datin Phyllis Lo, Caroline Paxton, Dr Julia Ongkili, Datin Rocy Chong and Soo Yuen Mee. 'These ladies have brought their unique strengths to the table and transformed Project REAL into a force for meaningful change in our school communities. We thank them for their service above self,' she added. Founded in 2016 by Datuk Noni Said, Project REAL has grown significantly with the support of the Sabah State Education Department. In just nine years, it has reached 51 schools across 14 districts, including Kota Belud, Papar, Kiulu, Inanam, Tuaran, Kota Marudu, Sipitang, Pitas, Kudat, Tenom, Kuala Penyu, Keningau, Ranau and Beaufort. In addition to English Corners, the program also organises inter-school competitions in poem writing, speech and storytelling, as well as Teachers' Training Workshops to strengthen teaching capacity. SMK Benoni was also invited to consider hosting future activities under the programme. 'Our goal is to empower children with the English language, opening up a vast ocean of knowledge and future opportunities. Reading is one of the most effective ways to master a language — and it's a habit worth nurturing early,' said Jeanette. She concluded her remarks by encouraging students to make full use of the English Corner: 'Dream big, study hard, and be curious. Let this English Corner be your gateway to a brighter tomorrow.' The Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu Pearl, now in its 10th year, remains steadfast in its mission to support literacy, youth development, and educational advancement across Sabah.
Sinar Daily
16 hours ago
- Sinar Daily
When marriage, parenthood and time redraw the lines of friendship
As life changes with time - through marriage, parenthood, career shifts or aging, so do our friendships. In Malaysia, these changes unfold differently for men and women, and across generations, but the cultural thread of connection remains strong, often woven through food, faith and community. On a quiet evening at a mamak stall, you might spot a group of uncles chatting over kopi O or a table of young adults deep in conversation, smartphones face-down. This simple scene, so common yet deeply rooted in Malaysian life, tells a bigger story about how friendships are shaped not just by who we are, but by the age we are, the gender we hold and the society we live in. Dr Wan Munira Wan Jaafar, a senior lecturer at the Department of Social and Development Sciences, Faculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, explains that friendship patterns in adulthood are far from uniform. 'Gender roles significantly affect how Malaysian men and women experience these changes. For women, especially in traditional Malay, Chinese and Indian households, friendships often narrow after marriage. 'Women face greater pressure to prioritise household duties and caregiving, especially after marriage or motherhood,' she said in an interview with Sinar Daily. In Malaysia, life changes like marriage, parenthood and career shifts shape friendships differently for men, women and generations, yet the cultural bond through food, faith and community stays strong. Photo: Edited via Canva Friendships tend to gravitate towards community-sanctioned spaces like charity events, parenting groups or women's cooperatives. Interactions with male friends often dwindle, not from personal choice, but due to social expectations around modesty and propriety. Men, meanwhile, have more leeway. 'Men face fewer restrictions and often sustain friendships through sports, fishing trips and alumni gatherings. These social ties tend to continue even after marriage, and society rarely judges men for maintaining them. 'But these gendered norms are slowly evolving, especially among urban Malaysians. More women are actively preserving their friendships despite juggling household and career demands. 'At the same time, a growing number of men are taking on domestic roles - changing diapers, preparing meals or managing school runs - which, in turn, reduces their time for leisure with friends,' Munira added. Friendship is also a generational experience. Munira explained that older Malaysians grew up in an era where relationships were rooted in locality, shared rituals and collective responsibility—'gotong-royong', 'kenduri' or surau gatherings. Their friendships were built to last and often revolved around family and community ties. Meanwhile, younger generations like Millennials and Gen Zs see friendships differently. Their relationships are more fluid, often built on shared interests and maintained through digital spaces. In Malaysia, life changes like marriage, parenthood and career shifts shape friendships differently for men, women and generations, yet the cultural bond through food, faith and community stays strong. Photo: Edited via Canva 'While this makes connections more adaptable to urban and mobile lifestyles, it can also mean shorter-lived ties and a reduced sense of permanence. 'For many, friendships evolve with life stages and drifting apart is no longer seen as a failure, but as a natural shift,' she mentioned. Munira also said that technology helps bridge some gaps. In Malaysia, retirees turn to WhatsApp or Facebook to stay connected, while younger adults use Instagram, TikTok and messaging apps to keep their circles alive. But while these tools offer convenience, they cannot fully replace real-world connections. 'Social media interactions often remain surface-level and can even deepen feelings of isolation when they substitute for real-world bonds. Seeing others post photos of vacations, weddings or success stories can unintentionally trigger a sense of being left out. 'Still, Malaysians are finding ways to reconnect. A simple meal, a cup of teh tarik or a text to say 'lama tak jumpa' can go a long way. 'In Malaysian culture, food remains a powerful social connector,' Munira said. Rebuilding adult friendships does not require grand gestures—just presence, intention and the understanding that they will not always look like the friendships of our youth.
