By Satiman Jasmin

JOHOR BARU, MALAYSIA: Mimi Suni, 17, and her younger sister Rini Suni, 16, stood out in their class - all their classmates were 11-year-olds.

Although much older, they were not the bullies. In fact, they were bullied out of school. The Orang Asli Seletar teenagers of Kampung Bakar Batu Danga near here just could not stand the jeers of the younger girls.

To make matters worse, even their teachers taunted them.

"Malu. Cikgu kata badan macam mak orang tapi masih Tahun Lima (I was ashamed. My teacher said that I looked like a mother but was still stuck in Year Five)," Rini said.

Their mother Yang Tom, 37, knew that this would happen sooner or later.

Yang blames herself for not being able to monitor or help her daughters in their school work, forcing them to be retained in Year One until they were 12 and 11 respectively.

The future does not look any brighter now that they have left school.

"If nothing is done to rectify the situation, our grandchildren will also have illiterate parents who will not be able to help them read or write."

She said reading and writing classes for adults could halt the cycle by ensuring parents and young adults pick up these basic skills.

"If it could be conducted here, it would be much better because the whole community could take part without feeling shy as all of us are in the same boat," she said.

Rini nodded in agreement, saying that she would prefer to attend adult classes rather than go back to school.

"Here, my friends and I can concentrate on the lessons instead of hearing taunts from the younger children."

Her hunger for knowledge is underlined by the fact that she uses her free time to learn her tribe's cultural activities.

"My parents were sad enough when I quit school, so it's the least I could do to assure them that I will not get involved in unhealthy activities."