In this letter I wish to draw your attention to an observation of some hard data, and then pose a question to seek for some credible explanations.

I have just read the school bulletin of a premier Chinese secondary school in Penang. In it, there is a chart showing the breakdown of the SPM results for the year 2005. I noted a very disturbing fact about the results for the three language papers, i.e, Bahasa Melayu, English Language and Chinese Language.

I would state the bare facts, and then request for a credible explanation for the intelligent citizens of our nation. I am the father of a student who sat for the SPM examination. God willing, three more will sit for it.

Altogether, 615 students of that school sat for the SPM examination in 2005. All of them took all the three language papers. The following are the results the students obtained for the three language papers.

For Bahasa Melayu paper - there were 170 A1s and 124 A2s. That means 294 out of 615 students obtained A for the paper (47.8%). And the ratio of A1s to A2s is 172:124 or 139:100

For the English Language paper - 321 A1s and 86 A2s. That means 407 out of 615 students obtained an A for the paper (66.2%). And the ratio of A1s to A2s is 321:86 or 373:100

For the Chinese Language paper - 16 A1s and 166 A2s. That means 182 out of 615 students obtained an A for the paper (29.6%). And the ratio of A1s to A2s is 16:166 or 9:100.

For these 615 Chinese students of this premier Chinese secondary school:

● 47.8% obtained A for Bahasa Melayu;

● 66.2% obtained A for English Language, and;

● 29.6% obtained A for Chinese Language.

From the above summary, it is obvious that an unusually low percentage of the students obtained A for their Chinese Language paper, compared to the percentage of the same students obtaining A for the other two language papers. It may be that the percentage is normal and attributed to the fact that a decent standard is still maintained for the Chinese Language paper. I hope this high standard will not be compromised at all just so that a higher percentage of students will obtain A for the paper. Or perhaps there is blatant discrimination even in the marking of the Chinese Language paper.

An artificially high percentage obtained distinction for their English paper. When the same English Language paper was graded with the equivalent standard of the 1119C, only 139 of the 615 students obtained A, or 22.6% . This seems to be a more realistic figure, though still slightly on the high side. This is a clear indication that many students are being deceived into believing that their English Language competency is at the 'distinction' level.

And the ratio of A1s to A2s for the three language papers is shockingly disproportionate.

● For Bahasa Melayu the ratio is 139:100;

● For English Language the ratio is 373:100;

● For Chinese Language the ratio is 9:100

Can someone please give a credible explanation about the highly abnormal and disproportionate ratio of A1s to A2s for the Chinese Language paper? I have a good reason for asking this question. I believe my son and nearly 50 of his fellow students of the above school who have obtained straight A1s except A2 for the Chinese Language paper deserve an explanation for this very abnormal fact.

Is it possible that there is some calculated conspiracy and discrimination in the marking system for the Chinese Language paper in particular? I have heard from many teachers who mark examination papers complaining of this real and subtle discrimination too.

There is enough distrust for the whole education system - that it has been twisted and perverted and messed up by the establishment politicians for political ends. These young men must be shown that Malaysia 'Boleh Juga' when it comes to fairness and justice in the education of its citizens. I hope they won't be told, 'If you don't like the system here, you can leave!'