Malaysia Insider (http://www.malaysiainsider.com)
Missionary schools model for 1 Malaysia, says PM, 27 June 2009
By Neville Spykerman
David Fernandez (right, a veteran St.John's teacher who is famous for his booming voice) organising the VIPs for the group photo before the start of the conference.
KUALA LUMPUR — A visit to his Christian alma mater was used today by Datuk Seri Najib Razak to drive home his vision of 1 Malaysia which was officially launched at Dataran Merdeka earlier this morning.
The prime minister, who officiated the opening of the Conference of Christian Mission Schools in Malaysia at the St John’s Institution here, paid tribute to mission schools and their role in nation building.
He said mission schools had a special ethos which promote unity, very much like his vision of 1 Malaysia.
Najib is led by the school captain, as he walks to the St.John's school hall for the conference.
“The ethos of mission schools shaped the values and beliefs of students which is in line with 1 Malaysia.”
He said that part and parcel of the concept of 1 Malaysia was to accept diversity and a plural society as a heritage and strength instead of a source of problems.
“1 Malaysia goes beyond tolerance but accepts diversity,” he said, adding that it would be achieved if Malaysians could look beyond race, colour and religions.
“I am convinced it we continue on this path Malaysia can be stronger.”
Najib said that St John's had provided him the sound grounding which eventually made him the prime minister of Malaysia.
He said that returning to the school had brought back special memories, including the times he walked up the hill (Jalan Bukit Nanas) to the school with his heavy bag and playing pranks with his friends.
He also joked that his father gave him a promotion, enrolling him straight into Standard Two at St John’s Primary School, where he spent five years, and a further three years at St John’s Secondary.
He paid tribute to the former and present teachers of the school and even called out to a La Salle Christian Brother in the crowd, who was his former teacher.
This was the scene earlier when Najib entered his alma mater accompanied by the famous St.John's school band.
Najib also took the occasion to have a swipe at Victoria Institution, the traditional rivals of St John’s.
“We are even better than the ‘other school’ in KL,” he joked.
He closed his speech with a special announcement, saying that he would officially declare his old school a National Heritage Site on July 12.
Comments (14)
by Samy, June 27, 2009
This fellow is talking cock!! Nowadays almost all missionary school heads are Malays, all christians symbols removed from the premises and replaced with arabic verses. Assembly begins with doa selamat . There is nothing missionary about mission schools anymore. Even the school emblems/badges have been altered.
Not what 1malaysia is that?
by angryaboutanything, June 27, 2009
I love St. John's very much, but there are two things that I'm ashamed of, Najib and Hishamuddin come SJI.
BTW, St. John's already is a National Heritage Site many years lar. There's a plate on the entrance. No need for you to declare AGAIN to gain publicity.
by Bigjoe, June 27, 2009
At one time the mission schools used to dominate MCE and HSE or what is now called SPM and STP. All the top students came from there. Except for some schools in Penang now, most of them don't dominate the SPM and STP. This is an example to follow? Does this mean 1Malaysia include declining standards in the name of embracing each other?
Older brothers, sisters and cousins and friends of mine attended the missions schools St Johns, VI, MBS etc, but those of us younger all decided it was better to go elsewhere like the best students in this country now....
by gua bukan bohong... cuma mau sokong, June 27, 2009
Haiya... Where got meaning? He never study in school lah... Only one Malaysia on world map... where got 1,2,3,4,5... etc... etc!
by eng ah por, June 27, 2009
If PM Najib is sincere about the comment on his alma mater and not trying to gain political points, 1one Malaysia is something we can look forward to. He should clear the air on freedom of religion & not allow UMNO ultras politicise this issue. After all,religion is good for the soul and mankind regardless of its belief and customs.Kindness,Love & Peace is the core of all religion.
by money, June 27, 2009
1GOD , one name can share or not?
by amoker, June 27, 2009
the way the government dismantle the schools? and he wants to link that to 1 Malaysia? It is like to Malay-cise the population, like what they have done for the misionary schools. Gone are the performance, the culture of excellence. now, most missionary schools are run like SRK.
by Disgusted, June 27, 2009
How can Malaysia be ONE when discrimination kept going on in school? I was shocked to hear from one parent that SMK Bukit Rahman Putra in Sg. Buloh does not allow non-Malays to be prefects. The kid from Form One was told by her teacher that the post was exclusively for Malays only. I noticed all the prefects (different colour uniform) were Malays when I was getting my kid's report card today(June 27) and thought nothing of it.
Do you think we can be ONE if such discrimination is never eradicated?
by sktan, June 27, 2009
malaysian politicans say malaysian schools are the best, but they send their kids to international school and overseas. HYPOCRITES!
I would like to see a senior umno minister sending their children to some ordinary school like SRK Brickfields SMK Brickfields, then only I will believe them. Otherwise all talk only. HYPOCRITES!
by One Church One Malaysia One Dream, June 27, 2009
Ya Kah Prime Minsiter , Mission school is on par with your One Malaysia ?
How come when Churches wanted to use "Allah", your UMNO cry father cry mother ???
•by wkc, June 27, 2009
Talk is easy. With the racist and ill educated teachers in all the schools spewing racism and religious superiority to their own race of students, any hope of promoting "unity in 1Malaysia" is impossible.
by Bodoh, June 27, 2009
The La Salle brothers are saddened of the monster they have educated...
by Pantelaimon, June 27, 2009
quote "mission schools had a special ethos which promoted unity" - perhaps, Mr PM, as a Johanian, you should implement that self-same ethos in this country.
I'm sure you remember what it was like in SJI:
- Firm, committed teachers
- Tight discipline where bullying was clamped down on
- Fair treatment
- Boys with the best abilities were groomed and encouraged to perform - irrespective of their background
St Johns, VI, Convent Bukit Nanas, BBGS, MGS, Penang Free School are all a microcosm of what Malaysia should be like. Please set our country down the path towards achieving that.
by olek skilgannon, June 27, 2009
Disgusted
So, did you complain to the Education Minister? Call the Malay Mail or The Sun? Or write a letter to the NST or The Star? Or enlist the help of Lim Kit Siang who is forever out there charging at windmills a la Don Quixote?
Why emote in this forum without taking concrete action to voice your grievances?
Or don't you have the courage of your convictions?
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