Marcus Hugo hopes to retire in SMK Lutong

1
Marcus Hugo

Marcus Hugo

KUCHING: SMK Lutong principal Marcus Hugo will abide by the decision of the Ministry of Education (MOE) but hopes he can serve in SMK Lutong until his early retirement next June.

“I am just a government servant. So I will abide by the decision of the MOE. However, as of now, I am waiting for further instruction,” Marcus told The Borneo Post here yesterday.

He also hopes that MOE will consider the needs of the students of both SMK Lutong and SMK Merbau as the transfer could affect the performance of both schools.

“Now is a critical time for any principal to transfer as those in examination classes need proper guidance from their teachers, especially from the principal,” said Marcus, who has been a Grade DG54 officer since
2008.

Wanting Marcus to stay put at SMK Lutong, Persatuan Kenyah Miri (PKM) has appealed to MOE to withdraw the directive for his transfer and award him instead with a higher grade before his retirement.

“The sudden and unceremonious transfer of Marcus Hugo, the principal of SMK Lutong to SMK Merbau is shocking. Thus, we are appealing to MOE to withdraw his transfer order otherwise he will be remembered as a victim of systematic and institutionalised prejudice and bigotry,” said PKM chairman Peter Kallang in a statement issued here yesterday.

He said the timing and manner of the transfer made it appear that it was a punitive action against Marcus.

“If this action is associated with the failed attempt last March by the two West Malaysian teachers to convert 13-year-old Sabrina Ngumbang, a student of SMk Lutong, it would be most unfair. If that is the case, the action by the MOE is criminalising an innocent, high performing, acclaimed and effective school principal, which is deplorable,” he stressed.

Kallang reiterated that PKM learnt that the whole episode of attempted conversion which happened in March this year took place outside the school compound and outside of school hours.

“The two West Malaysian teachers involved did not inform Marcus about the attempted conversion episode. So, there is no question that the school principal was not involved or has mishandled the situation,” stressed
Kallang.

According to Kallang, the matter was resolved with the intervention of Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah, who spoke directly to the parties concerned, including the two teachers and the parents of Sabrina on March 27.

“With Datuk Fatimah Abdullah’s direct involvement, the MOE transferred the two teachers from SMK Lutong on March 30, 2015. So there is no reason to believe that Marcus has mishandled the situation,” said Kallang.

He said Marcus has been proven as an exceptional principal who is able to promote discipline and order in
schools.

He added his good leadership could be seen from the performance of the schools he headed as he was often assigned to problematic schools, especially those having indisciplinary problems, which he managed to turn around to good ones.

“These schools include SMK Bakong, SMK Long Lama and SMK St. Joseph’s Miri, where Marcus left a legacy of respect and was loved by the people.

“In SMK Lutong where he is now serving, he has turned it to a ‘Cluster School of Excellence’, which is in recognition of a holistic achievement. In each school he is respected by staff and students,” he added.

Marcus has been awarded with various accolades by the government for his outstanding and exceptional performance such as the ‘Pengetua Cemerlang’ and ‘Anugerah Perkhidmatan Cemerlang’.

“Marcus should have been promoted to a more responsible position so that many more schools can benefit from his dedication and skill. He should not be
penalised for any offence which he did not commit,” concluded Kallang.