Station master Ahmad Pandak Wahab stormed into the office of King Edward VII Secondary School (KE VII), Taiping, principal Long Heng Hua with his son Jamil in tow.
“Come in Haji, what’s the matter?” Long asked, not surprised as Ahmad had earlier asked for an appointment.
“He failed the trial exam. I don’t know what to do with him. I don’t care what you do to my son; break his bones if you have to, but make sure he passes his MCE (Malaysia Certificate of Education),” Ahmad replied.
Long eyed Jamil before asking: “What do you want to be?”
Jamil: “I would like to be an ambassador.”
Long: “How can you be an ambassador if you don’t pass? How many subjects did you fail?”
“Seven”, Jamil answered in a quivering tone.
Long: “Bend down.”
And Jamil stopped thinking. His body shook as disciplinarian Long caned him seven times. He then looked up at Ahmad and said: “I hope this will make him realise the need to study harder and pass.”
Thanking him, Ahmad…