The National Union of Teaching Profession (NUTP) suffered a great loss on Monday following the demise of Manjit Singh, the former incumbent Chairman of the union’s Perak chapter.
Manjit, who led the first teacher’s strike from SYS Batu Gajah, breathed his last at 10.45 pm at his home in Ipoh, Perak.
As I myself remember it, Manjit always spoke the truth and spent a great many years in the NUTP, fighting for the rights of teachers while never once abandoning his principles or his responsibilities as a teacher.
“Teachers today are enjoying the perks and benefits of Manjit and his team’s efforts to seek fair wages for those in the teaching profession,” Dr Sri Shanmugam wrote.
NOTE: A tribute by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is included below
IPOH: The National Union of Teaching Profession (NUTP) suffered a great loss on Monday following the demise of Manjit Singh, the former incumbent Chairman of the union’s Perak chapter.
Manjit, who led the first teacher’s strike from SYS Batu Gajah, breathed his last at 10.45 pm at his home in Ipoh, Perak.
He was 82.
Born on the 15th of Spetember 1939, Manjit attended school in ACS Ipoh throughout his primary and secondary years before joining an emergency teachers’-training program in a tiny hamlet about six miles from the city of Liverpool, called the Kirkby Fields.
The place was literally farm after farm and had been a munitions factory in the Second World War.
Some who graduated from Kirkby say, “even God smiled on this pioneering educational programme that had a Malayan curriculum taught in England by well-qualified staff, most of whom were graduates from such universities as London, Oxford, Cambridge and Aberdeen.”
Upon his return to Malaya in 1961, Manjit was posted to Jelebu Negeri Sembilan before being transferred to SYS Batu Gajah where he led a strike to seek fair wages for those in the teaching profession.
“1967 will go down in history of SYS and (the) nation, which saw the first teachers strike. May his soul RIP,” said former student Dato’ Dr Bhupinder Singh.
According to Gopalan Nair, Manjit was his history teacher during some of his years in SYS (Sultan Yussuf School) Batu Gajah.
“Tall, handsome and well-dressed at all times, he used to drive from Ipoh in a blue Volkswagen.
“As a very good teacher and disciplinarian, he was concerned not only for the welfare of his students, but also that of members of the teaching profession,” he said.
Another student, Dato’ Hj Hamdan Dato’ Ahmad, wrote how Manjit was very strict but a loving teacher who always wanted the best for his students.
As I myself remember it, Manjit always spoke the truth and spent a great many years in the NUTP, fighting for the rights of teachers while never once abandoning his principles or his responsibilities as a teacher.
“Teachers today are enjoying the perks and benefits of Manjit and his team’s efforts to seek fair wages for those in the teaching profession,” Dr Sri Shanmugam wrote.
According to him, some students had even asked Manjit to lead or stage the strike after school hours.
“Many of us then needed his help in class to guide us though our lessons and curriculums in view SCE.
“One stern look from him was enough to melt us down with disappointment,” Shanmugam added.
Manjit was fondly referred to as “the man with long sleeves” and “Robin Hood.” According to Daljit Singh Rekhraj, he was one of the more outstanding teachers who taught in SYS.
“Mr Manjit Singh. Our history teacher and I got a knuckle from him. Anyway, I got through history for MCE. He laughed when I related to him,” said Bahazin Yeop Harun, a former student.
“Education is a life-long learning, that’s what he said during his speech at our reunion dinner. He, Mr Tharmapalan and the late Koh Sek Khoon were true teachers. They teach from their heart.
“In one incident, he said a student reported to him, ‘Sir, this boy said this and that behind your back.’ He replied, “it’s very common that people talked behind your back. What is bad is people like you who reported!’ I remember that Mr Manjit,” Bahazin added.
Another student, Chan Siew Hoong, related how Manjit built the foundations to his grasp of English.
“He taught me English in Form 2A, SYS. He gave me the foundation to my good English. Simply…use plain words in short sentences,” Chan said.
Manjit is survived by his wife of 51 years, son, daughter, grand daughter and son-in-law.
THE THIRD FORCE
