2009/10/21
KUCHING: When Joanna Gilbert Asson was accepted for a postgraduate course at the Teachers Training College Rajang, she was beside herself with joy. But that joy was scuppered thanks to an insensitive senior official at the college.
Joanna, 29, claimed she was discriminated against when the man told her that she was too fat to become a teacher. She wants the Education Ministry to do something about it.
Joanna claimed the man told her: "You're fat. You can't possibly be a teacher. You look unhealthy, come back next year after you've slimmed down."
A business administration graduate from Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Joanna sat for an examination and was interviewed by a panel from the college on May 19.
After being told that she was successful, she reported to the college on June 22, accompanied by her parents.
She paid the RM300 registration fee, collected additional forms, including those for a medical test and waited for her turn.
It was then that the senior official called her into his office and told her she was fat.
"How can he judge me by my appearance alone? I have not undergone a government medical test but he was confident that I am sick."
Joanna said she went for a medical test at a private hospital before registering, but the college rejected the result because it was not from a government clinic.
In frustration, Joanna wrote to the ministry to withdraw from the course and for a refund of the registration fee.
"During the interview, nothing was said about my weight. They can see from the form that I am 110kg."
State Education director Dr Julaihi Bujang said the college official should not have acted that way but declined to comment further.
The Education Ministry's Teacher Education Division in Putrajaya could not be contacted for comment.
Emmm... what can I say. This girl is bigger than me but I understand the situation that she is in and I salute her for being able to stand up for this kind of "discrimination". She will have to,; first, prepare herself mentally, physically and spiritually in order to go through this ordeal. It is in my opinion like a "rape" trial (I am open for discussion).
As a FAT person, you are always in a different league of people. And it will always gets on my nerve when people 'arranged' their sentences as not to offend me. Please stop. I AM OFFENDED!!! but I had to pulled that straight face so YOU wouldn't be offended by the words that WILL come out of my mouth and believe me I can say a lot of nasty things(if it weren't for HIS Grace.)
I didn't care about it before. I ate because I just love food. Over the years I do realize that I want to live longer, to enjoy my life with my husband. I want to grow old with him, watch my kids grow up, being there when they fall in love; having puppy love, going to college, getting married, have my grandkids and so on... I have to be healthy for them and for myself. That's why I am watching my diet. I was sick last week. I had sore throat, body ache and I was not surprise when the Doc mentioned that my blood pressure was very high and I do felt it. He put me on medication instantly. I ever mentioned to my gynae that I watched my parents being dependent on this medications (both of them are diabetic and having high blood pressure) and I told him that I do not want to live a life like that. I guess he had his point when he said that the medications is what keeping them alive until today. Look like I have to take my medication as if I am taking my vitamins and supplements. My next leave, I am going for a medical check-up which I always tried to avoid. Hey!!! I want to live!!!!!
