ANTIDOTE As we Malaysians struggle through a cynical time of religious fear-mongering in schools and in our wider society, we would do well to reflect on the life of a tenaciously open-hearted teacher, Brother Albinus, born Michael O’Flaherty.

Brother Albinus passed away peacefully at the age of 83 on Aug 4, after 62 years of teaching and inspiring students of all races and religions.

This great educator, a member of the pioneering La Salle order of pragmatic teachers, was the last La Salle Brother principal in Sarawak. He retired from the Sacred Heart School in Sibu at around the same time as Brother Columba left as principal of St Joseph’s School in Kuching.