Letter from Kelantan.

I got a letter in the mailbox, several pages thick. It was as thick as those you would usually get whenever you buy electrical appliances on hire purchase. But it wasn't; it was from my daughter's school in Pasir Puteh, Kelantan.

Dana was hauled up by the school authorities for a very 'grave' offence -- she switched dorms without permission! For that, she was grounded for the whole semester and was made to sit through a long and humiliating grilling session on the importance of discipline until she cried, threatened with expulsion and was made to sign several pages admitting to the gravity of her 'crime', a declaration that she will not repeat the offence, listen to this, any time anywhere as well as the heavy repercussions that she will get should she breach any of the school rules again in the future! Whew!

A copy of whole set of letters was extended to the Education Ministry in KL, no less, as well as to me as her guardian. As if that was not enough, even I was asked to sign a declaration to acknowledge the seriousness of my daughter's offence and my unquestioning acceptance of whatever punishment, including expulsion from the school, they might deem fit, should my daughter even as much break one of the flower pots or something like that!

Switching dormitories! Did they ask Dana why she was so brazen so as to defy the sacred school rules and, Heavens forbid, move to another room? Would they even consider had she asked? No, they didn't. And I don't think they would even want to listen to such a humble request either.

Actually my daughter did call to tell me about it a few days before she 'committed' the offence. She was having a problem getting along with one of her dorm mates who was giving her a hard time. There was a spare bed next door so she thought she might just move over.

I am not going to sign the letter. But they definitely are going to get a different kind of letter from me. In English. With c.c. to the Ministry. Time to kick some ass!