Sex Education in Malaysia

Personally, I think sex education should be made compulsory in schools if government and parents are serious in protecting youngsters’ well being. First, implementation of sex education in school will avoid misconception and curiosity of youngster on the topic sex. Malaysia, known as a conservative Asian country is less open to discuss things like sex. Always, parents are embarrassed to impart the knowledge to their children. As a result, kids will find their own ways to learn about the subject, commonly through internet or peers, which are unreliable sources. The growing curiosity and misconception on sex will lead them to wrongdoing. Therefore, youth should be given accurate and detailed information in school so that they can behave wisely. Second, sex education will bring awareness on sex-related social ills to youngster. Sexual crimes like internet pornography, incest, pre-marital sex, rape, abortion, infanticide, sexual abuse and harassment and paedophilia would be dealt in the class. Students will be taught the consequences of these crimes and learn to protect themselves. In the long term, it hopes to drive down the number of sex crimes. Last but not least, sex education can prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Responsibility on sexual behavior and safe sex would be highlighted in class. Youngsters will learn to take precaution to protect themselves from being infected by the epidemic. In conclusion, sex is a subject that needs to be discussed, not a taboo. I think Malaysia needs to go ahead with sex education on condition that it is approached properly and is implemented correctly.

AUSTRALIA

How does the text relate to the theme of a journey?
This text is undoubtedly about the journey of an English woman in Australia. Lady Sarah Ashley travelled from England to Australia to meet her husband Maitland Ashley in Faraway Downs Farm. However, Maitland was murdered when they reached. Sarah then decided to fulfill his husband’s wish which was to stop the monopoly of Aussie’s beef by Carney. Together with Drover, Nullah and a group of loyal employees, Sarah started her journey to drive the cattle across the desert to Darwin to supply the army.

What is the main issue in the text?
The main issue in the text is Lady Ashley’s determination to continue her husband’s wish, to stop the monopoly of Aussie beef by King Carney. Besides, it also talks about the romance between Sarah and Drover as well as the growing love of Sarah towards Nullah. Last but not least, it is the formation of a new family by Sarah, Drover and Nullah who were from different background.

What quality do you admire or dislike in a character?
Neil Fletcher’s greed for money, power and status is despicable. He betrayed Faraway Downs Farm’s owner who three generations of his family had worked for and turned to Carney. His cruelty is unforgivable. He exploited and abused Nullah’s mother. In order to gain what he wished, he killed Maitland and Carney. In the end, he even wanted to kill his own son, Nullah who had cursed him but failed.


How does the text develop your understanding of the world?
Wealth does not last long. We should appreciate everything we have and not be blinded by wealth. Apart from that, we should never discriminate anyone else. Every creature is a gift from God. We should respect them all.

THE LITTLE PRINCE by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

How does the text relate to the theme of a journey?
This novel describes the trip of the little prince from a small planet called asteroid B612 leaving behind his beloved rose to explore the rest of the universe. He visited six other asteroids, each populated by a single adult which is the king, the conceited man, the drunkard, the businessman, the lamplighter and the geographer before he paid his last visit to the earth. There is certain message portrayed through his each visit.

What is the main issue in the text?
In this novel, the narrator tells us about his eight day being stranded in the desert where the little prince has been telling stories to him on foolish adults. Most adults are too self-centred. Since then, the narrator’s view of point has changed enormously.

What quality do you admire or dislike in a character?
The little prince is so naïve but wise in a way that he is able to develop his own understanding over the messages he received. He is patient to remove the baobabs that take root in his planet constantly. His love and concern toward his little rose are impressive.

How does the text develop your understanding of the world?
1. ‘It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye.’ We should look at things in all perspective and most importantly with our hearts.
2. ‘You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.’ Once you have put your heart on something, you must not leave it.
3. ‘It is the time you have spent with your rose that makes your rose so important.’ The more you spend, the more u become dependent.

FALLING LEAVES by Adeline Yen Mah

How does the text relate to the theme of a journey?
This autobiography portrays a painful yet heart-stirring story of a girl’s journey into adulthood. After all the hardship she had gone through, a comfortable family consisting of an understanding husband and a pair of lovely children was her final destination.

What is the main issue in the text?
The whole story is about the struggle of an unwanted young little girl to be loved by a family that treated her cruelly. It talks about the influence of her stepmother on the whole Yen family and also on Adeline’s life as well as the escape of a helpless girl from the nonstop emotional abuse from her wealthy father and manipulative, heartless stepmother.

What qualitydo you admire or dislike in a character?
Favouritism, cruelty and hatred revealed by Niang, Jeanne Prosperi Yen are among the personalities I dislike the most. Niang made up all stories to sway his husband from giving attention to poor Adeline. She pampered her own children with all the fancy things but mistreat her stepchildren. She hated Adeline because Adeline was marked as bad luck. Therefore, Adeline was physically beaten and constantly insulted by Niang.

How does the text develop your understanding of the world?
Life is not fair. Even the things you yearn for does not fall into place that easily. Sometimes, wealth can be disastrous. It is thought to be the root cause of all evils. It arouses envy and tears family apart. However, education enables us to improve our life and boost ourselves worth. Our fate is always in our hand.

DESERT FLOWER by Waris Dirie

How does the text relate to the theme of a journey?
The text notes the transformation of a nomad into a woman of the world. Desert Flower outlines Waris’s survival from desert in Somalia to Galcaio, Mogadishu and eventually becoming a model in London. Waris’s journey continued as she pursued her career in the cities all over the world such as Paris, Milan and New York until she was appointed as UN special ambassador. Today, she travels the world speaking out against the uncivilized practice of Female Genital Mutilation.

What is the main issue in the text?
The main issue in this text is a courageous woman’s struggles to come to terms with her Somali childhood, including her experience of female genital mutilation. This memoir of an international supermodel is undoubtedly remarkable with all the dreadful experiences along the way to success.

What quality do you admire or dislike in a character?
Waris is a determined, independent and courageous spirit. I adore her courage to make her own way out. Along her journey to be successful, she relied on no one but herself. Apart from that, she worked extremely hard for her dreams to come true and never gave up.

How does the text develop your understanding of the world?
When there is a will, there is always a way. The world is full of chances. We have to take the first move with courage in order to pursue our dreams. Though custom is cultural heritage, the barbaric and brutal one must be abolished so that our life is better off.

BOY- TALES OF CHILDREN by Roald Dahl

How does the text relate to the theme of a journey?
This book describes the life journey of the writer Roald Dahl particularly on his childhood from his birth until his engagement with Royal Dutch Shell. A major part of Dahl’s literacy influences stemmed from his childhood. All those fascinating experiences gained as a traveler of his own life inspired Roald Dahl with marvelous ideas for stories which led him to his writing career.

What is the main issue in the text?
This text is mainly about the living condition and the education Dahl received during his childhood. His mischievous and adventurous personality had developed various interesting plots in his own life.

What quality do you admire or dislike in a character?
The characteristic of Dahl’s mama, Sofie Magdalene Hesselberg impressed me the most throughout the story. Her two most pleasing traits are strong will and independence. Though the pain of losing both husband and daughter was unbearable, she refused to take the easy way. With much courage, she solved the puzzle of life to fulfill his husband’s wish.

How does the text develop your understanding of the world?
Dahl’s being accepted by Shell Company tells me that we have to give a try in order to know the outcome. Everything is possible.

Myself

Looking again and again at her watch on alternate minutes, she didn’t seem to enjoy the movie much. Perhaps the film was monotonous. Since she used to love romantic comedies and art films, historical plays weren’t really her cup of tea. It’s a quarter to five, yet the Econs lecturer didn’t show any intention to stop the play. Silently she put a Halls in her mouth just to keep herself awaken. The night before was a long one. Insomnia had called on her as usual. She remembered finally voyaging across her dreamland only in the twilit gloom.

The view outside the picture window caught her sight rather than the TV screen. The once fair sky became suddenly covered with dark clouds. She started to worry about her journey back home as homesickness had overshadowed her over the past few weeks.

Immediately after the lesson, she took a cab to the LRT station nearby. The traffic was heavy. She wasn’t in the mood of enjoying the great architecture around the city through the windscreen. On the contrary, the hectic life in big city made her sick. Staring anxiously at the display of fare, she counted repeatedly the only few notes with her. She gave out a big relief when she finally escaped from the traffic congestion.

The LRT was crowded with people from all walks, yet her heart was filled with loneliness. Looking at every single face of stranger, she found her own comfort zone listening to the snoring of an old man beside her. The once young dependent girl who never took any public transport in her hometown had been forced to grow up. Sometimes, she did doubt her decision which was to stay apart from her family and came alone to this unfamiliar place. She always wondered whether she had been on the right track on pursuing her own dream. In fact, her dad was the one who desired her to study abroad. As for her, she only wished to stay in her own homeland together with her beloved family. To be able to graduate from a local university is more than satisfactory to her. It’s not that she didn’t want to dream big. There was time she loved to dream. But the reality of life had swept away all her naïve and unrealistic thoughts over these years. She knew her responsibility well enough. Being the eldest child, her parents had set all their hopes on her. She never allowed herself to disappoint them. Indeed, it was her important role in the family that made her feel alive. Sometimes she would imagine herself as a wedding planner which was once her ambition. But most of the time, she kept reminding herself that her ultimate dream would be to build her family a dream house.

Apart from that, she was none other than an ordinary young lady with some sort of boyish characteristics. She talked aloud and always giggled like nobody business. She was a big bully who loved to tease her friends and make fun of them. She was clumsy and absent-minded that she could lose her processions all over the place. She posed a hyperactive personality though sometimes she might have some pessimistic thoughts. She was short-tempered, emotional and sensitive. Mc D’s sundae cone would never fail to make her day better. Her friends always considered her a naïve person as she trusted people easily and hence was always deceived by others but yet she never stopped believing them. She loved to travel around so she once dreamed to be an air-stewardess. Paris was her dream city as she loved romance and art. She had a little secret that she was always terrified during English lesson since she was Form 4. She would start shivering whenever teacher called her name. Last but not least, home was always her final destination.