LETTER | I refer to the Malaysiakini report Hannah defends school students over 'anti-oil palm' performance.

It's regarding primary school children at an international school based in the  Klang Valley embroiled in a controversial event organised by the school with regards to palm oil plantation which destroys the orangutan habitat due to deforestation.

Teresa Kok's censure of the school management is being rebuked by Hannah Yeoh. This time around, I'm throwing my support for Hannah Yeoh.  

I was a science teacher at an international school earlier and the last thing these schools want is for local schools pedagogy to be implemented in their system. As teachers, we are reminded to let the school children think critically and not just be subjugated by the facts thrown to them. 

What is wrong with school children taking up issues regarding environmental degradation? Are they marching down the street and holding placards like in Penang? 

Moreover, oil palm plantations destroying the habitat of orangutans is a fact that you can't deny. Some even are killed by the planters due to their foraging activities in the oil palm estates.

It's their rights as well as ours as adults to be concerned as they are going to inherit the same place in not too distant future from now. Reminds me of one wise saying of the American Indians that goes: 

"Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children".

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.