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Proposal to set up Yunnan Corner in Pustaka Negeri

Posted on 19 September 2015

KUCHING: The setting up of a Yunnan Corner in Pustaka Negeri here has
been proposed as a way to promote understanding among Sarawakians of
the culture and development of the Yunnan province in China.

China’s
Consul General in Kuching, Liu Quan, said the proposal was being looked
into by both the state authority and its Yunnan counterpart.

“The
proposed Yunnan Corner will display books, movies, travel magazines as
well as other materials for our readers here. I am aware that the state
library now has a Lincoln Corner, so we are hoping to see a Yunnan
Corner.

“If Yunnan Corner is successful, we would look forward to
setting up a Confucius Corner,” he said before handing out ‘Outstanding
Personality for Chinese Education’ and ‘Outstanding Teacher’ awards on
behalf of the China Overseas Exchange Association to 21 individuals
during a simple ceremony at The Mandarin in iCom Square here yesterday.

Board
of Management for Kuching Chung Hua Middle Schools No 1, 3 and 4
chairman Richard Wee and Federation of Kuching and Samarahan Divisions
Boards of Management for Aided Chinese Primary Schools deputy president
Jonathan Chai were among the recipients for the ‘Outstanding Personality
for Chinese Education’ honour.

Liu said all honorees had
contributed tremendously to the development in Chinese education in the
state, in line with the diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia.

He
hoped that the awards would serve to further motivate not only the
recipients, but also other individuals to do even more for the Chinese
schools in the state.

Liu, in recalling a past conversation with
the then-chief minister Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib
Mahmud, said the latter told him about seeing more and more Bumiputera
children attend Chung Hua primary schools.

“Tun Pehin Sri has even told me that the Bumiputera pupils have improved a lot in Mathematics, apart from learning Mandarin.”

Liu,
however, pointed out that the standard of Chinese language among
Malaysian students was a bit behind their counterparts in Mainland
China.

Moreover, he noted that the gap was also noticeable in the oral and thinking skills.

“Nevertheless,
Malaysian students remain very popular among universities in China.
Most of the feedback that I have gathered states that Malaysian students
are generally well-mannered, able to speak fluent English and are also
very disciplined.”

The ceremony was also attended by Sarawak
United Association of Chinese School Boards of Management chairman Datuk
Pau Chiong Ung, and Federation of Kuching and Samarahan Divisions
Boards of Management for Aided Chinese Primary Schools president Pemanca
Liu Thian Leong.