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New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
Ink in my veins: Growing up with the NST
"WHO wants to be a journalist?" I was 11 — and the only one who raised a hand. We were on a school trip to the New Straits Times building in Jalan Riong, Bangsar. For most, it was just a break from class. But for me, it felt like a pilgrimage. I still remember the guide's question that day — casual, perhaps rhetorical. My hand shot up anyway. What stayed with me wasn't the bus ride from Methodist Girls' School in Klang — it was the roar of the printing press, the clanging metal, the rhythmic hum of stories being born. I remember the warm sheets of newsprint and the sharp, inky scent in the air. That was the day I realised: stories weren't just told — they were made. The NST broadsheet had long been a fixture in our home. Delivered faithfully each morning by Uncle Mano — who, remarkably, still delivers the paper to our doorstep to this day — it would sit folded neatly on the dining table, often before any of us were awake. My late father would read the paper from cover to cover with his kopi O in hand, chuckling or snorting whenever something struck him as amusing, outrageous or wise. I'd sit beside him, tracing the headlines with my fingers, pretending to understand the grown-up words. In time, I did — and once I started, I never stopped reading. THE GOLDEN PENS In those formative years, the writers I admired were bylines I followed faithfully. Chief among them was Adibah Amin, whose Sri Delima column felt like a conversation with a witty, wise aunt. In one piece, she wrote: "We (Malaysians) have become hypersensitive... losing the ability to laugh at ourselves." It was a gentle reminder to develop thicker skins and softer hearts. If Adibah was the quiet voice of reason, Rehman Rashid was the thunderclap — brilliant, biting and unflinchingly honest. His Scorpion Tales were packed with sharp insight and rhetorical force. When I got to know him later, his encouragement to write gave my childhood dream renewed purpose. He was as formidable in person as on the page — but always generous with his words. These writers didn't just fill space in a newspaper. They filled a void in me — one that yearned for eloquence, for stories that mattered, for words that cut through the fog. NST AS CLASSROOM Beyond columnists, the NST had a stable of journalists who seemed to me like literary gladiators. I remember reading about the Jean Sinappa murder trial in the 1980s — how the paper's coverage was breathless and gripping, detailing courtroom drama and public opinion in equal measure. I didn't know it then, but I was getting my first taste of investigative reporting. In the NST's long and storied newsroom, there were figures whose leadership and voices shaped not just the paper, but the journalistic ideals we aspired to. K.P. Waran, who rose from war reporting to executive editor, embodied calm authority and generosity. Kadir Jasin led the paper through a politically charged era with sharp editorial judgment. Johan Jaaffar brought a literary depth to journalism, while Farrah Naz Karim, bold and fearless, champions accountability through her reporting and leadership. I didn't know most of them personally, but I studied them like teachers. Their writing taught me precision, integrity and the value of asking the questions others wouldn't. The NST was once more than a newspaper — it was an educational tool. Through School Times, NiE pullouts and youth features, it shaped classroom discussions and helped students, myself included, to sharpen our English and connect with the world. Today, the NST has embraced the digital age — delivering news via mobile alerts, long-form digital features and podcasts like Beyond the Headlines and Sunday Vibes@NST. These new platforms continue its legacy of storytelling in ways that are accessible, immediate and engaging — proof that tradition can evolve without losing its voice. Now, the NST is entering a new era — one where print and digital blend more seamlessly than ever. With QR codes embedded into its pages and stories now read aloud through smart devices, the paper is not just being read — it's being heard. This shift honours the spirit of storytelling while embracing how people consume news today. Students can now listen to articles, learn correct pronunciation, and engage with the language in ways that go beyond the printed word. For a publication steeped in tradition, it's a bold step into the future — one that ensures the NST remains accessible, relevant and resonant with new generations of readers. And for those of us who grew up clutching the broadsheet at the breakfast table, it's a thrill to see the same paper we loved reimagining itself — once again, telling stories that matter in ways that speak to the times. THE PAPER TRAIL OF DREAMS When I eventually became a journalist, it felt like the most natural thing in the world. I didn't "decide" to be one — I had become one over time, like a pot left to simmer slowly until the flavours seeped into every fibre. It was a calling planted in me that day at Jalan Riong when I stood before the printing press in my school pinafore. To say the New Straits Times was my gateway to journalism is only part of the story. It was also a chronicle of Malaysia's growing pains — recording Merdeka, May 13, reformasi, royal weddings, floods, elections, scandals and the haze. It documented the ache of farewells, the pulse of everyday life and the rare euphoria of sporting triumphs. Even as formats evolved — from broadsheet to compact, from print to digital — the NST remained a thread linking my personal history to the nation's. It taught me to love language, to cherish nuance and to value truth — even when truth was uncomfortable. Years later, I'd step into the hallowed halls of Balai Berita as a journalist — starting out on the very same second floor where the printing press once roared and where, all those years ago, my dream of becoming a writer had quietly taken root. Thank you for the years — all 180 of them. Ink may fade, paper may yellow — but the stories endure. And so does the dream.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Straits Times
Then and now: You've got tails in Singapore
Whether 1845 or 2025, some things in Singapore never change. Snippets on how we reported them then and now. Ducks at a pet farm in 2023. In January 2025, The Straits Times' Life section launched a weekly Pets page as its 'pet project'. On Oct 6, 1964, a Tuesday, Myrtle Chee walked into The Straits Times' office at Times House in Kim Seng Road with a photograph of a dog. It was her pet, Peggy, a fawn-coloured boxer with white patches, which had gone missing three days before. Myrtle, 15, a Methodist Girls' School student, wanted to offer a reward to anyone who found Peggy or could give information leading to her discovery, the paper reported in a short article on Page 4, nestling it between cinema advertisements and a lead story on Mr Devan Nair agreeing to stay on as NTUC chief. A day after the story on Myrtle Chee's missing dog was published, she got her pet back. PHOTOS: ST FILE Happily, just a day after the report was published, a man found Peggy wandering along Bartley Road, near the Ramakrishna Mission Home, and took the dog back to the teenager, the paper reported in a follow-up story. One wonders if there was the same happy ending for five-year-old twins Juliet and Jennifer, who were so worried about their missing dog, Caesar, that they refused to go on holiday to Penang with their family. Instead, on Aug 4, 1965, they came to the newspaper office with their mother to appeal for information on their dog, which, incidentally, was also a boxer. No mention was ever made about whether Caesar was found. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore HSA intensifies crackdown on vapes; young suspected Kpod peddlers nabbed in Bishan, Yishun Singapore Man charged over distributing nearly 3 tonnes of vapes in one day in Bishan, Ubi Avenue 3 Singapore Public healthcare institutions to record all Kpod cases, confiscate vapes: MOH, HSA Singapore Man allegedly attacks woman with knife at Kallang Wave Mall, to be charged with attempted murder Singapore Singapore boosts support for Timor-Leste as it prepares to join Asean Singapore UN aviation and maritime agencies pledge to collaborate to boost safety, tackle challenges Singapore High Court dismisses appeal of drink driver who killed one after treating Tampines road like racetrack Singapore 18 years' jail for woman who hacked adoptive father to death after tussle over Sengkang flat It is likely that pet ownership in Singapore became more common only after World War II. Search for the word 'pet' and there are slim pickings in the newspaper archives before the 1950s. Most articles mentioning domestic animals did not originate in Singapore or Malaya. Most, but not all. On July 5, 1897, an article headlined 'A talk of geese' told the story of a woman in Kuala Lumpur who had been robbed of her flock of geese, one of which was 'a special pet'. She later came upon a Chinese man who had possession of what looked like her flock, and the two of them were asked by the police to prove that they were the rightful owner. 'The Chinaman called the geese in vain... Then the lady softly pronounced the pet name of her favourite bird, and instantly it waddled to its mistress, and the whole flock followed its lead.' A notable pet that graced the pages was an Italian greyhound belonging to the King of Siam, which was lost in Singapore en route from Britain to Siam in January 1904. The greyhound, 'wearing blue silk collar', was found two days after it had gone missing and landed later in Bangkok in 'the lap of royal luxuriousness'. Reports of missing or stolen pet dogs cropped up in the news in the 1930s and 1940s, including a 1940 case in which a Eurasian woman accused a man of stealing her poodle, valued at $80. Most missing dogs are never found, the paper reported in 1986, citing the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which received about 35 calls a month about these lost animals. Only one or two dogs were reunited with their owners through the society. While pets appeared to be the preserve of the landed classes, it was reported in 1977 that the Housing Board had begun giving out licences for pet shops across different housing estates. 'The move is in response to a recent call by the Minister for National Development and Communications, Mr Lim Kim San, to encourage a love of nature among high-rise dwellers,' said the article. In 1978, HDB began letting flat dwellers keep up to one dog – from a list of permitted breeds – in their homes. Cat lovers had to wait for decades before HDB relaxed its rules in September 2024 to allow up to two cats in a flat. The Straits Times reported that there were an estimated 94,300 pet cats here in 2023 , up from 85,100 in 2019 and 126,100 pet dogs in 2023, up from 123,600 in 2019, citing figures from data analytics firm Euromonitor International. Cat lovers had to wait for decades before the Housing Board relaxed its rules in September 2024 to allow up to two cats in a flat. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR From being a relative rarity in Singapore, pets have become a part of many people's lives here. In January this year, the Life section launched its weekly Pets page on Mondays as its 2025 'pet project'. The offerings include pet-related listicles and features, as well as a fortnightly Celeb Pawrents series on local personalities and their pets. Deputy life editor Jeanmarie Tan, 48, says: 'We noticed that pet ownership and interest in all things pets is at its peak in Singapore, so it made sense to carve out a dedicated and regular environment for a growing lifestyle sector and serve the corresponding readership.'
New Straits Times
06-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Jinoreeka's rise in squash fuelled by parents' dedication and big spending
KUALA LUMPUR: Parents play a pivotal role in shaping their children's futures — just ask former state hockey player R. Manivannan and his wife Toh Chee Kuan. The Ipoh-based couple have poured in time, energy and over RM250,000 to support their only child, rising squash star Jinoreeka Ning ( The duo run a humble restaurant in Ipoh Garden specialising in curry mee and Hainanese chicken rice, but their greatest pride is Jinoreeka, who is fast making a name for herself on the junior squash circuit, both locally and internationally. The 15-year-old bagged her second continental title on Saturday, clinching the Girls' Under-15 crown at the Asian Junior Squash Championships in Gimcheon, South Korea. It was her second Asian Junior title after winning the Under-13 crown in China two years ago. Remarkably, Jinoreeka, a Form Three student of Methodist Girls' School in Ipoh, who picked up squash at the age of eight, has amassed 20 junior titles without a full-time coach. "I love squash because it's fast-paced and challenging," said Jinoreeka, who dreams of becoming a world-class player within five years. With no coach based in Ipoh, Jinoreeka travels to Cairo for training stints under renowned Egyptian coach Omar Aziz — best known for working with world No. 3 Hania El Hammamy. "I saw Omar on television coaching Hania and told my dad that I wanted him as my coach," said Jinoreeka. "We got in touch and he agreed. When I'm back in Ipoh, I stick to the training programme he provides." Her parents were in the stands to witness her latest triumph in Korea, spending RM10,000 just to be there. Despite their business commitments, Manivannan and his wife prioritise their daughter's budding career. "I've travelled with Jinoreeka to Cairo eight times in the last two years, spending over RM250,000," said Manivannan, 54, who played for Perak and Maybank in hockey. "I even cook our meals when we travel. We want her to be as good as the Egyptians. That's why we're making all these sacrifices." When back in Malaysia, Manivannan drives his daughter to Kuala Lumpur on weekends for sparring sessions at Lake View Club and Jalan Duta Courts. "We're doing everything we can to help her succeed," he added. "Our dream is for Jinoreeka to compete at the British Junior Open next year." Manivannan was part of the Perak side that won the Razak Cup in 1992, and now, more than 30 years later, he's working hard to help his daughter script her own sporting legacy.
The Star
22-05-2025
- General
- The Star
Rasammah Bhupalan: A life of service
Datuk Dr Rasammah Bhupalan, Malaysia's distinguished educationist, prominent women leader and social activist, died on May 13, 2025, aged 98. Born on May 1, 1927 in Ipoh, Perak, she was the youngest child of educationist parents, who instilled in her the belief that the primary role of teachers was to mould the country's future generations. During her early teens, in 1942, Rasammah witnessed the sudden collapse of British colonial rule of Malaya following the unexpected defeat of the British Army by a formidable Japanese Imperial Army. Anti-British sentiments among diaspora Indians in the region to free India from British rule, led to the formation of the Indian National Army (INA) under nationalist leader Subhas Chandra Bose, who established a women's wing in 1943 – the Rani of Jansi Regiment (RJR). At 16, Rasammah joined the RJR and rapidly imbibed vital leadership skills and self-discipline that stood her in good stead throughout her later professional life. On completion of her education at the Methodist Girls' School, Ipoh in 1949, Rasammah gained entry to University of Malaya, then in Singapore, on a Federal Government Teaching Scholarship and graduated with a BA Honours (Second Class Upper) Degree in History. In 1952, she married Dr Frank Bhupalan, a consultant anaesthesiologist. Education service Her obvious career choice was to follow in the footsteps of her parents, and she too embarked upon a philosophy of combating parochialism and achieving 'unity in diversity' through her educational career. Rasammah's career as a teacher, administrator and innovative educator spanned a period of more than half a century. Her life-long objective was to strive to take school education to new heights. Serving as an education officer in several prestigious secondary schools under dedicated, experienced educators was an enriching experience. In 1965, she assumed the headship of the Methodist Girls' School in Klang and subsequently, was appointed principal of the country's most prestigious Methodist Girls' School in Kuala Lumpur, a position she held for 13 years. To be effective, she believed the country's public education system needed to provide solid academic instruction and develop well-rounded students and 'creative thinkers'. A noble commitment of Rasammah towards disadvantaged poor children with often weaker education backgrounds, was to give special attention to improve their academic standards and narrow the achievement gap. She engaged the more experienced teachers to teach academically weaker students. She encouraged active participation in extracurricular programmes, ardently believing they provide pupils a rounded education. Hence, she spared no efforts to ensure that schools provided the essential facilities for co-curricular activities. As a strong advocate of parents playing a positive role in their children's education, Rasammah actively promoted Parents Teachers' Associations in all schools she taught and administered; they were instrumental in raising substantial funds from the community to build excellent infrastructure and learning facilities. Retirement: Continued education and community service On retirement from the education service in 1982, Rasammah became the founder principal of Methodist High School in KL which was later elevated to Methodist College. As a non-profit private institution providing A-Level classes, she geared the college towards educational excellence. Many of their high achieving students gained admission into world-class universities including Oxford, Cambridge, London School of Economics in Brtiain and Stanford University in the United States. During her ten-year tenure as Principal, she placed the College on the education map: A crowning achievement among her many contributions as a teacher and principal. In 1998, her untiring efforts to raise funds culminated in the establishment of the innovative YWCA's Vocational Training Opportunity Centre (VTOC) in Kuala Lumpur. The VTOC's main objective was to train disadvantaged young girls and women from West and East Malaysia including the Orang Asli community, irrespective of ethnicity or religion, in income-generating vocational skills including tailoring, culinary/bakery and early childhood education. Prof Wang Gungwu, in his foreword to Rasammah's biography, highlighted one of her most distinguishing features 'is her devotion to what her parents stood for, the cause of education in the enhancement of the human spirit. 'This is the key symbol of what Malaysia as a country stands for in the world and her contributions here will long be appreciated for upholding that position unswervingly.' Champion for gender equality Though women teachers increasingly dominated the profession, they were discriminated both in terms of pay and service conditions. For Rasammah, this gender inequality was both an anomaly and injustice. The harsh truth, for her, was that the National Joint Council for Teachers' (NJCT) negotiations with the government 'had been a complete failure in addressing the question of equal pay and other anomalies affecting women teachers'. The Women Teachers Union was thus established in 1960 to address the issue of equal pay, with Rasammah as Pro-tem Chairperson. Rasammah, as president of the Women Teachers' Union, persisted with the struggle for 'Equal Pay for Equal Work' through mass rallies in 1962, 1963 and 1964. Finally, after a protracted battle, the government led by Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, in July 1969, agreed to award equal pay for women. This battle for equal pay had not only united working women but further strengthened their role in the country's social and economic development through the formation of the National Council of Women's Organisations (NCWO). In their book, Empowering Women In Malaysia: The Mission Continues-The History of the NCWO, Adibah Amin and Farida J. Ibrahim acknowledged the vital role of the Women Teachers' Union in the inception of the NCWO. When then Education Minister Abdul Rahman Talib called for a single Teachers' Union to be formed 'to secure unanimity on basic issues affecting the profession', Rasammah organised a meeting of various teacher unions in August 1962 and emphasised that as 'one physical body of teachers we can more effectively improve conditions so that succeeding generations may live more freely and more abundantly'. At a historic meeting in 1965, Malaysian Teachers Union (MTU) was formed with Rasammah elected as a vice-president. National and international recognitions Rasammah accomplished many milestones in her time and for her dedicated, life-long service to fellow Malaysians, she was bestowed with numerous awards: A Federal Government Datukship; Tokoh Guru Award (1983); Pingat Emas Tun Fatimah (2003); Tokoh Wanita (2012) and the sole recipient of the Malaysian Women Leadership Award at the Global Summit of Women (2013). In 2014, her alma mater the University of Malaya conferred her an honorary Doctor of Philosophy for her stellar contributions to the country's education and public service. Rasammah Bhupalan was a remarkable citizen of Malaysia and undoubtedly one of the country's outstanding and distinguished women leaders. Caring not for personal comfort, prestige or promotion, she devoted her energy to do what she believed in to be right and proper; for the cultural, educational, and economic betterment of Malaysia. Her emphasis on helping all to excel in education, especially needy students, renewed the ideals of service to level up our socially disadvantaged communities, and, ultimately, to galvanise a progressive Malaysia. Prof Viswanathan Selvaratnam is honorary professor at the Asia-Europe Institute (AEI), Universiti Malaya.
New Paper
21-05-2025
- New Paper
Man fined after his remote controlled plane crashed onto school tennis court near coach
A man who lost control of a remote controlled plane before it crashed onto a Methodist Girls' School (MGS) tennis court, mere metres from a coach, was fined $7,000 on May 20. Ng Tchi Mun, 68, pleaded guilty to one count of operating the unmanned aircraft (UA) in a manner which could endanger another person's property. His UA - a Hangar 9 Pulse 125 weighing around 3.7kg - broke into pieces upon impact, leaving part of the tennis court scratched and cratered. Specifications of this plane model found online state that it is 159cm in length, with a wingspan of 193cm. The crash, which happened on Aug 20, 2023, a Sunday morning, took place around 4m from a tennis coach who was preparing for a 12pm private class. Deputy Public Prosecutor Ariel Tan said the coach was "completely taken aback" by the UA crashing onto the tennis court and "began shaking in fear at the thought that he could have been harmed". "After he composed himself, he called the MGS facilities manager to report the incident before lodging a police report." The court heard that Ng was operating the UA from an open field in Old Holland Road around 250m away from the MGS sports complex. There were also residential homes in the vicinity. Ng, a Singaporean, held an unmanned aircraft basic training certificate issued on Jan 31, 2021. DPP Tan said: "At about 10.15am, the accused noticed that the wind was getting stronger, so he decided to steer the UA back towards the open field. "The accused estimated that the UA was about 50m away from the sports complex of MGS when he tried to manoeuvre it back to him. He ultimately failed to do so and the wind propelled the UA towards MGS." Ng then lost control of the UA, which crashed onto one of the tennis courts, located on the third floor of the school's sports complex. The coach was walking across the court when it landed about 4m away. Ng arrived at the scene soon after and identified himself as the owner of the UA. The DPP said: "He (later) agreed to pay the repair cost of $410.40 when presented with the quotation from MGS' contractor." On Dec 1, 2023, MGS proceeded with the repairs under its facilities refurbishment plan, and Ng paid the contractor $410.40 a month later. Without revealing details, the DPP said that the payment was later returned to him on Jan 9, 2025. This was not the first case involving a UA that crashed near people. A company was fined $18,000 in April after a drone it was operating crashed into a building in July 2024 while flying towards One-North Residences near North Buona Vista Road. The device fell to the ground just 1m away from two residents and caught fire. The company was convicted on April 1 of operating a drone in a manner that could endanger lives or property.
