Who’s Who?
Generally, expert said that a person who had IQ index above 150 is considered as a “Genius”. IQ was calculated as a ratio with the formula 100 x mental age/chronological age. It means that the ratio of mental age and chronological age for a Genius is 3:2. They are people of great intelligence, who show an exceptional natural capacity of intellect, especially as shown in creative and original work. Genius may come in a variety of forms, such as mathematical genius, literary genius, or poetic genius, etc. Artistic genius may show itself in early childhood as a prodigy or later in life; either way, geniuses eventually differentiate themselves from the others through great originality. Intellectual geniuses often have crisp, clear-eyed visions of given situations, in which interpretation is unnecessary, and they build or act on the basis of those facts, usually with tremendous energy. Accomplished geniuses in intellectual fields start out in many cases as child prodigies, gifted with superior memory or understanding.
Malaysian Children Prodigy: Where Are They?
Remember Mohd. Shukri Hadafi? A child who sparks the local newspapers on early 1970s because of his ability to read newspaper only at 3 years old. Now, what happen to him? Where is he? It is reported on early 1990s that he’s working at a stall as a Penebar Roti Canai . There are some sources too that said Shukri falls into the world of drug-addict. The Genius adopted son of Prof. Diraja Ungku Aziz lost his potential which makes him very famous before. There must be something wrong somewhere.
While for Chia Ti Ming, It is a terribly sad story. He had enjoyed an extraordinary life as a genius and blessed by being the youngest student ever at California Institute of Technology (CalTech) last two decade. However, he dead on early January 2007 because of uncontrolled, enormously bad depression, which caused him to be admitted to HKL on 2002. We lose another so-called precious asset.
It is a far complex matter happen to Sufiah Yusof, another remarkable child prodigy. The daughter of Farooq Yusuf, a Pakistani and Halimahton, a Malaysian was a child math genius who won a place at St. Hilda’s College, Oxford University aged just 13. But now the only sums Sufiah Yusof is interested in are the ones she earns as a HOOKER.
Sufiah Yusuf
Sufiah, who’s regarded as nice, righteous, and pious at his early age with bless of genius by Allah, end up in the world of prostitution after facing uncertain and problematic life. Another Malay Muslim genius child becomes the victim. What the heck has happened? Who’s next?
Lucky Chan Yao-ban, another Malaysian-born child prodigy, at 21, today he becomes the youngest-ever PhD graduate at Melbourne University. Mr Chan, who was born in Malaysia and raised in New Zealand, was largely home-schooled by his mother Peck-Woon, a microbiologist, and father George, a director with Heinz. He is now conducting a research of statistic method to identify the protein abnormality in human brain to diagnose schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. He has met the right path to trim his ability to the peak. My question is, do we need to run away from Malaysia just to support such kind of children? Well, we do have bodies such as National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC), Malaysia. Apparently, that is not enough.
Adi Putra
Another young math whiz Adi Putra Abdul Ghani, who could read newspapers by the age of four, fascinated Malaysians with his ability to solve Additional Mathematics problems. He faces the possibility of being thrown out of his primary school. The parents of the seven-year-old boy have received show-cause letters from his school, SK Jalan Matang Buluh in Bagan Serai, warning them that he could be expelled for cutting classes too often. His mother Serihana Elias, a former teacher, said her son was reluctant to go to school because he was bored with the basic syllabus of reading, writing and counting lay down by the Education Ministry. Let’s put it in simpler manner. What would have happened if Mozart went to a regular school as other children despite his talent in music? What would have happened if Mozart’s father didn’t capitalize on his talent? Let’s read what Allah says in Surah 13 ar-Ra‘d, verse 11 as a point to ponder:
لَهُ مُعَقِّبَاتٌ مِّن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ يَحْفَظُونَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللّهِ إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّى يُغَيِّرُواْ مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ وَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللّهُ بِقَوْمٍ سُوءًا فَلاَ مَرَدَّ لَهُ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِ مِن وَا
For each (such person) there are (angels) in succession, before and behind him: They guard him by command of Allah. Allah does not change a people’s lot unless they change what is in their hearts. But when (once) Allah willeth a people’s punishment, there can be no turning it back, nor will they find, besides Him, any to protect.
Conclusion
Nurtured and taught the right way, we can expect great things from the children prodigy in the future. But until then, it is also important that the glare of the media and attention be diverted away from them. They are still first and foremost children and should not be exposed to such pressures. They should be allowed to enjoy the things every normal child enjoys. Every child have their right to have a normal childhood, to experience everything a normal child should experience, regardless of whether he's a genius or not. The most important thing here is not only to nurture their abilities so that they will not be one day burnt out like many other geniuses around the world, but also to build him up in other skills, not just Math. The government is supposed to be the umbrella body: supporting and nurturing. The government must also realize that this is not a problem. This is actually an opportunity. Supposedly Genius is a manifestation of bless and not curse naturally. So, please don’t manipulate them as if they are some kind of alien as it is going to destroy the nature of Genius itself. Till then, thank you.
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