Little Red Riding Hood

The Beginning of Red Riding Hood

Characters:

Simran / Little Red Riding Hood: A young adventurous girl

Rahul: A courageous boy who wonders around the dark forest

Mother: A middle aged woman who loves her family

Grandmother: An old lady that lives alone in the dark forest

Settings:

·         Mother’s house

·         Dark forest

·         Grandmother’s house

Costumes:

·         Simran:                     Red colour Punjabi dress

·         Mother:                    Old saree

·         Rahul:                      Jippa, turban

·         Grandmother:          White saree

Props

·         Basket

·         Soup

·         Chains

·         Axe

·         Silver knife  

Scene 1

Setting: Simran’s house, inside the house.

(Curtain opens. Mother is preparing cookies for grandma.)

Narration:     Once upon a time, there lived a young girl with her mother. They lived far from the village. One day... 

Mother :	(Smelling the soup.) Wow the chicken soup smell so nice. Grandmother is going to love this. (calling casually) Simran. (looking around) Where is this girl? (calling loudly) Simran! Get me some onions. (shouting) Simran!!!
Simran:	(Enters the stage swiftly) I am here mother.
Mother:	(Angrily) Where were you? Look at you! (Moving towards Simran and cleans the dirt on her gown) Why are you so dirty?
Simran:	I was playing at the field mother.
Mother:	(Firmly) How many times should I tell you? Girls should stay in the house and learn to cook.
Simran:	Mother, but why must women do all the works while men do as they like?
Mother:	Because they are men Simran.
Simran:	But mother, girls are just as equal to any men. Women can achieve anything if they want to.
Mother:	But that is how it is.
Simran:	(music: sad piano instrumental) Mother, I remember father saying to me, we can always be better. The only thing we have to do is to have hope. (pauses)
Mother:	(crying) Your father was a great man.
Simran:	(holding her mother’s hand) I am sorry mother. Did I remind you of father?
Mother:	(sobbing) It’s okay dear. Can you do me a favour? Please send this chicken soup to your grandmother in the woods? She is ill.
Simran:	Okay mother.
Mother:	Do you still remember the way to her house? We have been there too many times together. You should remember the way.
Simran:	Yes mother, I still remember the way.
Mother:	And remember Simran, do not talk to any strangers and above all reach your grandmother’s house before sunset. You should move now. Hurry!!!
Simran:	I’ll be back before you know it mother.
Mother:	(Immediately and almost like shouting) No! Do not come back home today. Stay with your grandmother tonight.
Simran:	(Surprised but keeping calm) Okay mother. As you wish. See you tomorrow.
Mother:	Remember no matter what happens today, I will always love you. (putting her red cape on and kisses her on the forehead) Take care my little red riding hood.
Simran:	Bye mother. (leaving the stage)
Mother:	(Looking at  the audience) Tonight is the full moon. I should prepare myself. Take care Simran. I have faith in you.

(Curtain closes)

Scene 2

Setting: The dark forest

(Curtain opens. Rahul enters with ropes, iron chain and an axe.)

Background music: dramatic story telling music

Special effect: use dry ice to create smoky effect

Rahul:	(Amazed) So this is the dark forest. It is too scary. I should be careful. Not only that tonight is the full moon. (Sound of footsteps). Someone is in the forest. I should hide myself. (Hiding behind a rock. Simran enters the stage. Rahul looking at the audience) Who is this girl? She must be very brave to enter the dark forest alone. I should watch her carefully.
Simran:	(Trips and fell down) ohw. My leg!!!
Rahul:	(Puzzled look. Looking at the audience) Should I help her? (Looking at Simran again.) (sighs) (moving towards Simran) Are you alright girl?
Simran:	My leg!!! It is bleeding. (sobbing)
Rahul:	Let me see it! (Looking at the leg.) It is just a small cut. Don’t worry; I will help you with it.
Simran:	Thank you very much sir. What is your name sir?
Rahul:	(Firmly) Sorry, but my father reminded me not to talk to any strangers.
Simran:	I am Simran by the way, what are you doing in the dark forest sir?
Rahul:	I am Rahul. My father asked me to hide in the forest for tonight. You are a very brave girl. You dare to walk in the dark forest alone.
Simran:	Indeed I am. My grandmother’s house is just around the corner.
Rahul:	You are very brave for a young girl. You better be fast, it is going to be dark soon. When the moon comes, wild animals will roam the forest freely.
Simran:	(Surprised)Wild animals? What is it?
Rahul:	Don’t you know? It is said that the dark forest is the home to a wild wolf. It will come out every full moon and kill anyone on his path. My mother was killed by the wolf when I was a small boy.
Simran:	(Afraid) This is very scary. I wonder why my mother never tell me these stories
Rahul:	(coughing)
Simran:	What happened to you sir?
Rahul:	This is just an illness of mine, I will fall sick on every full moon. My family does not have any money to treat my illness.
Simran:	You should follow me then. My grandmother is a talented nurse. She will treat your illness.
Rahul:	Thank you Simran. I don’t know how to repay your kindness.
Simran:	(calmly) My father often says that always be kind and have hope. I hope that you will get better.
Rahul:	(Coughing). We better be fast. It is getting darker
Simran:	Follow me Rahul.

(Simran and Rahul leave the stage. Curtain closed.)

Scene 3

Setting: Grandmother’s house

Narration:     After sending Simran to deliver the soup, mother follows the shortcut and reaches the grandmothers house first. Cautiously she knocks the door.

Grandmother:	(Cautiously) Surjeet, is it you?
Mother:	Yes mother. Open the door. ( they hugged each other)
Grandmother:	(Cautiously) It is full moon tonight. Where is Simran?
Mother:	She is on her way here.
Grandmother:	We should be very careful Surjeet. But don’t worry we will be safe here.
Mother:	That’s why I asked Simran to stay here but she shouldn’t know about my presence.
Grandmother:	No worries my daughter, I will keep this as a secret.
Mother:	Just in case of emergency, I brought you this. (revealing the silver knife that she brought along)
Grandmother:	(Shocked) But Surjeet, you can’t be thinking about. (pauses)
Mother:	If it is the only way to safe my family, use this knife.
Grandmother:	It seems like Simran is near, you should hide yourself daughter.
Mother:	(hurriedly) I will mother. Take this knife; you might need this knife to slay the monster.
Grandmother:	Indeed I will. Don’t worry. Now sneak through the backdoor and return to your home.
Mother:	Take care mother. (hugging her mother again) I entrust you with the only family I have.
Grandmother:	Bye Surjeet, I will always love you.
(Mother sneaks through the back door. Grandmother is looking at the knife)
Simran:	(Calling loudly) Grandma! Grandma! Please open the door.
Grandmother:	(Hides the knife and opens the door) (gladly) Simran! (hugging Simran) How are you? I missed you Simran.
Simran:	(Happily) I missed you too grandma.
Grandmother:	(Curiously) Who is this young boy?
Simran:	He is a friend of mine, Rahul. He needs your help grandma. He is sick.
Grandmother:	Why don’t you children enter the house first? (looks around cautiously and closed the door)
(Simran and Rahul enters the house)
Grandmother:	(Touches Rahul’s forehead). Ohw boy, you are so cold. What is this illness of yours?
Rahul:	I fall sick on every full moon.
Grandmother:	That is strange. Why don’t you get some rest first? (Looking at Simran) Simran, why don’t you sleep in my room tonight?
Simran:	(gladly) Okay grandma. (Enters the room and sleeps.)
Grandmother:	You can sleep here tonight Rahul.
Rahul:	(coughing heavily) It’s the full moon
Simran :            This is the only place I can enjoy myself. ( Plays a ‘Bangra’ song) Grandmother:    (Hears the song and enters the room) Simran:              Grandmother, why don’t you join me to dance? ( Pulls grandmothers         hand to dance) Rahul:               (Coughing heavily) Grandmother :  Oh my boy, what is wrong with you? You are getting worse. I need to do     something now. Simran, go and get the medicines in my room. (Simran is running towards her grandmother’s room.)
Simran:	(Screaming) Grandma! Grandma! Something is happening to me.
Grandmother:	(Calmly) what is it dear?
Simran:	My ears are getting bigger.
Grandmother:	So you can hear me better dear.
Simran:	My eyes are getting bigger.
Grandmother:	So you can see me better dear.
Simran:	My nose is getting bigger.
Grandmother:	So that you can smell me better dear.
Simran:	My teeth are getting bigger. Grandma! Now I have furs all over my body. What is happening to me?
Grandmother:	Because you are a werewolf dear.
(Sound of wolf howls. Simran who is now a werewolf jumps off the bed and wants to attack Rahul and grandmother. Rahul and grandmother run to save their live. Grandmother takes the silver knife and wants to stab Simran.)
Rahul:	(Lovingly) Remember Simran. Come back to your sense.
Grandmother:	(Panting) She is a werewolf now Rahul, she won’t listen to you. Stab her heart with this knife when you still have a chance.
Rahul:	(Protesting) No! That will kill her. I will save my friend.
(Simran growls at them. Rahul takes his iron chain and chained Simran.)
Rahul:	(Panting) Remember Simran. Always have hope. This is what your father often says right. I hope that you will come back to your sense. How can you be a werewolf? It does not make any sense.
Grandmother:	Her father was a werewolf. He is the one who killed your mother. This is Simran’s first transformation into a werewolf. If you don’t kill her now, you will never get a chance to avenge your mother.
Rahul:	(After thinking for a moment) It is not right to kill anyone. I will never do that. Although her father may have killed many people, Simran never killed anyone. I will spare her life. I will give her this chain. Please tell her to chain herself on every full moon so that she will not harm anyone.
Grandmother:	(Holding Rahul’s hand with a loving voice) You are a good boy Rahul. Thank you for your help

(Curtain closed)

Death Penalty for Drug Abuse

The life and death of a person is not ours (humans) to decide. It is gods will and only the god can choose when a person can die and why he dies. According to Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 (Laws of Malaysia, 2006), anyone proven guilty of trafficking or selling drug will be sentenced to mandatory death no matter what is their nationality is. It is undeniable that Malaysia is one of the countries that give mandatory death punishment to the drug traffickers.

What is drug? According to Webster drug is defined as a chemical substance used in the treatment, cure, prevention, or diagnosis of disease or used to otherwise enhance physical ormental well being.  Initially  drug  is  used  to cure illness and diseases but now its use is abused. In Malaysia normally drugs is used in night clubs to create hallucination so that they will do things that they normally won’t do. 

There was 22851 drug users detected in Malaysia in 2006 (Communications, 2006). These results were shown in one of the annual journal of UNICEF Malaysia. This amount is equivalent to 1 of 124 peoples living in this country.  Thus we can come to a conclusion that 1 of 124 Malaysians are active drug users. The amount is consist of 71.04% of youngsters aged 21 to 29 and 78.30% have only form 3 education.

It is an inevitable to destroy the drug trafficking cycle around the world. According to Whitehall, UK a successful seizure of 60% is needed to put a successful trafficker out of business. But none of the countries ever reported such seizures. No matter what the punishment is this crime seems to never fade in the glory of time.

Death penalty in Malaysia is one of the very prominent topics discussed by the local human rights committee. Since 1960 around 441 persons were sentenced to mandatory death; the amount consists of 228 persons who were killed for drug related offences (Gallahue, 2011).  The amount might seem small but think about all the other countries that still giving death penalty for drug abuses. The sum might be a very big.

“We shouldn’t be playing gods”, those are the words of Nora Murat, Director of Amnesty Malaysia (S.BEDI, 2010). Amnesty Malaysia is one of the loudest voices against death penalty in Malaysia. They argue that the death penalty disproportionately affects the poor, affects visible minorities and other marginalised groups. Innocent people have been executed and nothing short of abolition can guarantee that no innocent person will be executed. 

But there is still a reason for hope. Each year more countries abolish the death penalty in law or practice. Several UN General Assembly motions have been passed in recent years calling for a universal moratorium on executions with a view to abolition. By far more countries have abolished the death penalty than practice it and each year executions only take place in a small number of countries (SCHABAS, 2010). So let us hope that Malaysia will abolish the death penalty so that no innocents are ever punished. 

Reference

1. Communications, U. M. (2006). STATISTICS OF DRUG USERS IN MALAYSIA – 2006. malaysia: UNICEF.

2. Gallahue, P. (2011). The Death Penalty for Drug Offences. United Kingdom: Human Rights Programme of Harm Reduction.

3. S.BEDI, R. (2010, august 9). star. Retrieved 4 11, 2013, from http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2010%2F8%2F29%2Fnation%2F6894703&sec=nation

4. SCHABAS, P. W. (2010). THE DEATH PENALTY AND DRUG OFFENCES. European Union, 8.

Example of speech - The Concept of 1 Malaysia can be strengthened by Appreciating the National History

As the dawn breaks into the world,
The sun shines like a blob of gold.
Giving us hopes of a fresh new day,
And putting our past at bay.
For today is as fresh as can be,
And make it better for you will see…

A very good morning i would like to bid to our honourable judges, the dashing/beautiful timekeeper, lecturers, friends and fellow audience.On this fine morning i would like to take you down the memory lane. Let us recap what happened in the past, how our history changes us, make us the citizen of our proud nation Malaysia. Before that let me introduce my topic today how does the concept of 1 Malaysia can be strengthened by appreciating our national history. 

Ladies and gentlemen, 

‘Those who don't read history are doomed to repeat it” those are the words from the western philosopher Edmund Burke. Allow me to explain my topic. What is the concept of 1 Malaysia? According to YAB Dato Sri Najib Tun Razak, "We stand, we think and act as a nation of Malaysia. One People. And we take actions based on the needs of all ethnic groups in our country; 

This does not mean we dispense with affirmative action policies, policies to help indigenous people as long as the policy is implemented in a fair manner and give consideration to the Bumiputera community who are eligible for a consideration of the government. We came out of the way in which we practice ethnic wall for a long time. " 

Leaders of the future,

It is our duty, as the citizen of Malaysia to make this aspiration become a dream and the dream to become a reality. Never forget. Our independence is not bought with money, it was bought with blood of our ancestors. Our freedom is at the cost of our ancestors sacrifices. 

During the British colonisation they used divide and rule. Malays are left in kampongs working with their crops, Indians are left in estates to manage rubber plantation, Chinese working in the tin mines. The segregation of races according to their role in economics widen the gap for national unity. Malays staying in kampongs, Indian in estates and chinese in towns reduces the probability for three races to gather in one place. After some time there is a prominent split between the races. 

Along with the arrival of chinese and indians is the education system that they brought along . The Chinese and Indians have their own vernacular school system that brings in teachers, books and syllabus from their country. Thus leaving this country with religious, English, Chinese, Tamil and Malay stream schools.  The direct effect of the education system the British implemented, was causing obstruction to the national unity. The process of assimilation did not occur as the races did not come under the same roof for studies. 

Prior to the 1970s, Malays were deemed rural in lifestyle as well as livelihood. The Chinese were seen as the tycoons, pillaging away the rich bounty of the land.  The Indians were restricted to thrive between the shades of rubber trees. Needless to say, this segregations and economic disparity was a recipe for doom. In 1969, the infamous bloody riot of May 13 occurred. This was the ultimate display of intolerance and was sadly and eternally  recorded in the annals of our history.  The tragic event of May 13 had made the government of the day realised that the matter of racial harmony ought to be the number one of all priorities. And rightfully so, certain measures were drawn up as to find the equilibrium which works for everyone.  

Members of the floor,

History cannot give us a program for the future, but it can give us a fuller understanding of ourselves, and of our common humanity, so that we can better face the future. This is not just a story, this is our history. The malays are no longer striving in the kampong, the indians are no longer locked in estates, now all of us have the same opportunities for success, our education system have been more transparent. The standard of living of our society has increased. Malaysians never starve to death. In this era, education in our country does not divide but unite the various ethnic communities through the use of one curriculum. Taking the 13th may incident as a lesson young generation should learn to tolerate with each other. All Malaysians should consider themselves as Malaysians who think and act in one voice and one goal. Demographic characteristics such as state, race, religion and culture should be avoided to establish an open minded Malaysian race and want to develop the country together. Young man, wake up, look around, we are living in a multiracial country. Respect others and avoid creating racial discrimination. Lets 13th may become the last of its kind.

Before i end my speech today allow me to remind you once again. Remember our history, learn from our mistakes. Thank you.