In Bolehland, all things are possible and now we learn that there are officials in Bolehland who think that 15 is more than16. In announcing the top scorers for last year's SPM, the education minister and his officials came to the conclusion that 15 A1s are more than 15A1s and one A2.

The two candidates with 15A1s each were announced as the top scorers for the particular examination. Whether the minister and his officials are aware or not, there is a Taiping lass who sat for a total of 16 papers last year and obtained 15A1s and one A2 for her effort.

To most of us normal people, 16As are obviously more than15As despite one of the 16As being an A2. This brilliant girl should have been declared as one of the top scorers if not the top top scorer for last year's SPM examination.

According to a newspaper report, Education Ministry officials when told about this student by the name of Chong Huey Ee, insisted that since she scored only 15A1s and oneA2, she cannot be among the top students of the country! Thus, it is obvious that our Education Ministry officials are insisting that 15 is better and more than 16.

The education officials in Perak are no better. Chong is not even in the list of the 115 Perak students who excelled in the SPM. The top five SPM students declared by the Perak education officials are two who obtained 13A1s and three others with 12A1s, 11A1s and 10A1s respectively. These five are to be feted by Bolehland's Education Ministry in a ceremony for top-performing SPM students in Kuala Lumpur soon.

Meanwhile, the actual top SPM student is left out in the cold. As if in consolation, Perak education director said Chong would be considered for an 'excellence award' by the state.

Chong deserves more and better. The Sabah government has already pledged to grant a scholarship to its top SPM student to further his studies. The least that the Perak government can do is to make sure Chong gets one too.

As for Chong, please do not be disappointed or baffled. We, the normal people know who is really the top scorer for last year's SPM unlike the education minister and his various officials who continue to insist that 15 is more than 16. Take heart that there are plenty of others who can count better and we all know that you are the top scorer.