By Celeste Choo Miss Lee had these black- framed-pointed-at-both-ends spectacles. She was slim, young. She had a face full of pimples. I do not think of her as particularly beautiful or attractive. I recall her as always attired in a white blouse with rolled up sleeves and a black skirt, whereas the other teachers dressed …
Most of us have seen the following words, often on placards at protests. Some of us know that a man called Martin Niemoller spoke them: First, they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a socialist.Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— …
William Newbrough was easy to mythicize. He was exceptionally tall with a wide stride, Lisztian hair and a bashful smile. From a distance, one could recognize him merely by his walking pace. We affectionately called him Dr. N. Whenever he sat at the piano, Dr. N brought musical notes to life with his physics-defying pianistic …
Sight-singing sign-up sheets are stuck to my studio door Read More »
The clothes I wore the first time I attended a service made me look like green veggie stuck in the sparkling teeth of a TV news reader. The church was packed with people in their Sunday best. The men wore suits and ties. The women were poles of elegance, topped by hats. I had on …
During my initial schooling years, I would only see my teachers in school, but eventually, there was a period in my schooling where I moved into a school and my teachers played a parental role for me. In my early teenage years, many would describe me as the quiet and shy person and the underdog. …
I first saw Mr Seet Chot Chit when he walked into the first-floor classroom where Form 4A was housed. I was in Sekolah Seri Perhentian, Pontian, in 1974. I was one of about 40 pupils in the class. Looking out the doors and windows on the left, we could see the sports/football field, and beyond …
Recently, I found myself in a place of life that I was in 3 years ago. A slew of events and circumstances which were disrupted by the pandemic left me in a place which caused me to question myself and clouded my identity. Am I perceived to be successful at my work, now that I …
I don’t think the sight of me has ever terrified anyone so. There’s only one explanation.
“A single death is a tragedy; a million deaths are a statistic” – Joseph Stalin I used to share slides with statistics of missing children in Malaysia, children sold into labour or for sexual exploitation. I have journeyed with a number of such children and adults in the Tenaganita Shelter for Trafficked survivors (2005-2011). The …
Most refugees are unemployed. Some have husbands and children. All have moments of recall. Idleness causes us to think of our past. Much in our past is good. Much in our past is not good. Much that we want to erase remains with us, no matter how hard we try to erase them.
My parents always showed they love me. I never lacked food or money. My parents always tried to do right things and to avoid wrong things. They strived to be morally upright. But it was not so with others who are a part of my history. … One of them tried to …
