Kuala Lampur, Jan. 22 -- A peculiar advantage from my fairly disadvantageous career trajectory is that I still deal with interns.

They do not enjoy dealing with a relic. The low perceived value of the organisation and its mission mean the interns are not the cream but rather the broader average.

Two things are generally revealed about them, as they struggle to deal with non-repetitive tasks. That they are generally allergic to math and science, and that they hate history classes. In and out, every batch teaches me.

Their lessons ached within me, reading the prime minister's announcement that undergraduates must endure recalibrated mandatory Malaysian history classes.

Apparently, too many young Malaysians emerge from 11 schooling years...