Standing tall and proud of her roots

The Star

4 days ago

It was a difficult start, but for this Orang Asli educator it was all worth it
IPOH: Growing up, Rasila Yas would ride in a police truck to get to school.
It was a 13km journey, starting at 5am, from her home in Pengkalan Hulu, Perak, with the truck making its way through jungle roads and crossing the border to her school in Baling, Kedah.
Her family had moved to Pengkalan Hulu when her father, a member of the Senoi Praaq unit (Polis Gerakan Am), was posted there.
'Since there were police trucks heading to Kedah and back, my father decided to send us to study in Baling, so we travelled daily,' said Rasila, who was born in Baling from the Temuan tribe.
Her childhood wasn't easy. She had to put up with kids who poked fun at her as they did not understand her Orang Asli background. They questioned her appearance and the food she ate.
'I was told I looked 'too fair' to be Orang Asli. Some asked why my hair wasn't curly.
'Others laughed at me, saying that my community eat squirrel or mousedeer.
'I told this to my father but he taught me to respond with pride, not shame,' she said.
She remembered her late father's advice: 'If anyone mock you for eating squirrel or mousedeer, don't deny it. Instead, describe exactly how it tastes. Stand tall.'
And she was slighted for wearing torn shoes. The fourth of seven children, she came from an impoverished family who relied mostly on vegetables such as kangkung, fern and potato shoots that grew near their house.
They would go fishing at a nearby river everyday.
'We ate chicken just once a month,' said Rasila, 54.
She went through her schooldays with few friends. But that did not break her resolve of wanting to pursue a sound education.
In 1991, Rasila took up a humanities degree course at Universiti Sains Malaysia. Eventually, she also completed a postgraduate Diploma in Education in 1995, thanks to a lecturer who encouraged her to take up teaching to serve her community.
And for those who had ridiculed her in the past, Rasila has the last laugh now.
She became Malaysia's first Orang Asli secondary school principal when she was appointed to lead SMK Menglembu in Ipoh on Feb 1, 2023.
(There have been several Orang Asli headmasters in primary schools.)
And earlier this month, she was honoured with the Orang Asli Icon Award, given to her by Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.
Rasila, who is married with five sons aged 19 to 29, paid tribute to Liew Swee Fong, a former principal of SMJK Ave Maria Convent where she once taught.
Liew had mentored her and had seen her leadership potential early on, she recalled.
Also, she said her geologist husband, who is from the Semai tribe and a fellow USM graduate, had been unwavering in his support.
Rasila's passion for education extended beyond the classroom. Since 2008, Rasila has volunteered with the Perak Orang Asli Association.
On weekends, she travels to schools in rural Perak, Pahang and Selangor motivating Orang Asli students to pursue their studies.
'Education is life-changing. That is what I want to instil to the pupils from the community.
'I tell them, if I can be in this position as a teacher, so can you,' she said.
'Although I never aimed to be a secondary school principal, maybe this is my calling to lead and to help open doors for others from my community.
'We should give back, guide others and show that we can rise, too,' she said.