COMMENT | It was 1985 when I was first called into the Guru Besar’s room. I was ten years old.

“That’s it! You are dead meat,” a classmate whispered into my ear.

Distracted, I gave him a “death stare,” when my science teacher, Mr Ng, raised his voice at me.

“What are you waiting for, an invitation? Go report to the principal’s office this instant!” the teacher commanded.

I made my way out of the classroom, walked along the corridor, down the stairs and into the school office. The principal’s office can be a scary place for many, but I wasn’t fearful – I knew I had done nothing wrong...