Fitting Recognition for our Big Three

 In July 2010, we got the school to agree to spruce up and name the previously disused “Teachers’ Meeting Room” (which was being used to store old documents, school magazines and trophies) after Mr Chua Cheng Chye, one of our most loved former teacher and primary school headmaster. The room was  repainted, refitted and renamed “Bilik Warisan Chua Cheng Chye” with intentions to display on the walls framed historical photographs and documents of MACS and our story.

Mr Chua had passed away in November 2008, a few days short of his 86^th birthday. As those of you who have read some of the articles on Mr Chua, the ChuaCC Fund was set up by some MACSians to start a bursary for the MACS primary school boys and/or similar projects to remember Mr Chua by.  The ChuaCC Fund committee came up with the suggestion to the MACS secondary school to name the meeting room after Mr Chua while the primary school agreed to name the school hall “Dewan Chua Cheng Chye”. To reciprocate these kind gestures, the ChuaCC Fund suppliedand installed a 42” LCD TV and two Glass Display Cabinets in the meeting room. The old school challenge trophies have since been restored to their original gleaming state, displayed inside the glass cabinets. An XGA LCD Projector and a 7’ projection screen have been installed in the Dewan Chua Cheng Chye for the benefit of the boys as they spend much time in the hall before classes, during recess and after school - as a security measure since the primary school is without any fencing. A "Chua Cheng Chye Achievement Award", comprising a framed Certificate and a RM100 voucher  is presented to selected boys in 5 categories – Sports, Academic, Special Education, Remedial and Overall. This year’s awards will be the third year running.

Around the same time in July 2010, we had discussions among ourselves and with Mr Lee Bun Chuan, the principal then, about not forgetting the two great legacies of our school – Dr Ho Seng Ong who organised the fund-raising and built the main building of our school, officially opened in 1941. He and his teachers had even donated a month’s salary each to the school building fund. It was noted sadly that prior to the centenary and The Macsian blog, very few MACSians have even ever heard of Dr Ho, a giant in Methodist Education in Malaysia and Singapore.

Like Dr Ho, Mr Goh Choon Lim lived his life for and around Malacca ACS. He was a student, teacher, principal and advisor and never wandered into “new” territory as his heart and soul were always with MACS.

I am very pleased to inform all of you that since the Centenary celebrations and Reunion dinner last March, and before Mr Lee moved on promotion to SFI, he had successfully implement our suggestions.

Today, any visitor and student can clearly note the bold “Bangunan Ho Seng Ong” lettering on the school frontage. 

 Note that the main building of the Methodist Boys School Kuala Lumpur (MBSKL), a cluster school and among the best if not the best, school in KL, was also built  under Dr Ho’s principal-ship and aptly named after him. Dr Ho is an old boy of MBSKL. There is also a primary school in Ipoh named SK Ho Seng Ong Methodist.

As you approach the school hall, you will now be greeted with the signage “Dewan Goh Choon Lim” above the main door.

Thank you Mr Lee Bun Chuan for taking the initiative and implementing what is long overdue. Indeed very long overdue but one can safely guess that such a measure was never before initiated as the personalities themselves did all the good for the school and their students, not for personal glory or reward.

Mr Chua Cheng Chye for example was still attending old boy’s functions,  keeping an eye on the BB boys at the MYF and attending the Boys Brigade functions in the last few years before his passing.

MACSians can do more. The recognition extended to our past leaders should not end with a simple naming of the buildings. Better fittings and facilities for the school, the hall and other rooms are welcome and needed to give real meaning to the initiatives.

You can help to keep alive the legacies left by these three fine educators and friends of MACS, by supporting any existing and future efforts like the ChuaCC Fund by giving generously or if you prefer, in your own ways.

Let us give back some to our alma-mater. Thank you in advance.

Note: This is not an entry article for the Coffee Table Book. 

Our School Badge, Motto, Houses...

Our School Badge:

Our School Badge over the years

The School Badge was probably introduced in the 1940s by the principal of that era, Mr Ho Seng Ong. The Straits Times reported on 24th April, 1930: "... (Under the new principal, Mr Ho Seng Ong) The school has now a properly organised house system - houses named after Messrs Loh Kim Swee, Chee Swee Cheng, Dodsworth and Shellabear...". It is believed that Mr Ho changed the names of the houses to those in use today when he introduced the School Badge.

Not much is available from the school annals or any other source on the original meanings for the design of our School Badge. The school's official website explains it as follows:

"Dalam lencana sekolah, harimau melambangkan semangat berani untuk menempuh segala rintangan dan  halangan demi mengecapi kejayaan.

Buku dan pena melambangkan tuntutan ilmu pengetahuan yang merupakan matlamat utama warga SMK Methodist (ACS).

Bintang dan lampu pula melambangkan peranan pendidikan dalam menerangkan hidup setiap insan.

'AD ASTRA PER ASPERA' merupakan motto sekolah"

Translation:

In the school badge, the tiger symbolizes the courage to face all obstacles and barriers in order to be successful.

The Book and Pen symbolizes that the acquisition of knowledge is the main goal of citizens of SMK Methodist (ACS).

The Stars and Lamp signifies the role of education in the life of every person.

"AD ASTRA PER ASPERA" is the motto of the school

However, for an insight into the original meanings, we asked around and this is probably the best and most accurate explanation:

“All MACSians will recall that upon enrolment, you were assigned to one of the four 'Houses', namely Tagore, Lincoln, Baden Powell and Sun Yat-sen.

The Tiger is our National Animal and referred to as “Master & Judge of the Jungle” and “Lord of The Jungle” in Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book on which Cub Scouting was based by Lord Baden Powell.

The Feather Pen and Book represents Rabindranath Tagore, a celebrated Indian poet, writer and musician.

The Three Stars represent the Nationalist China's (now Taiwan's) National Anthem, known as San Min Chu-I or three principles, and attributed to Sun Yat-sen.

Finally, the Lamp or eternal flame represents Abraham Lincoln for freeing the American Negroes from slavery and that freedom will never be extinguished.”

- Bien Hock Nien, Class of 1955

Excellent recollection by Bien, whose memory at age 73 still astounds me and many others!! Still, one must allow for differing though obvious views, like:

“I still think essentially they represent bravery, knowledge or wisdom, ambition and enlightenment.”

- Loh Teo Huang, Class of 1973

Our Malacca ACS Motto:

Ad Astra Per Aspera

Latin for "To the stars, through difficulties"

The Houses:

The Straits Times Clipping of 24th April, 1930:

A snap-shot of the CTB page on this topic:

A Poem: "MACSIAN MEMOIRS"

This is a poem written by a former teacher of Malacca ACS for the Centenary. It was first published in the 100th Anniversary edition of The Macsian 2010.

Puan Noorainun Bte Anuar is a MACSian Staff 1991-2001. After Malacca ACS, she joined the Malacca Education Department as an English Language Officer. She is currently Assistant Director of the Language Unit.

The following is a high-resolution snap-shot of the printer-ready page featuring Puan Noorainun's poem. Please click on the picture to view it in the original size:

Maybank was co-founded by a MACSian

A young Gan Boon Koo during
 the early years of his career

Maybank as popularly known today was founded on 12th September, 1960. The founder-directors were Messrs Khoo Teck Puat, Gan Boon Koo, Jack Oei Tjong Ee, Dato’ Abdul Rahman Yasin,  and four others. The bank was formed with an authorised capital of  $20 million of which $7.5 million was paid-up immediately.

Gan Boon Koo was General Manager
of Malayan Banking Limited from
 its founding days

Initially named Malayan Banking Limited, it was headquartered at High Street, Kuala Lumpur in a building formerly known as Mansion House. The building was bought from Federal Dispensary for a million dollars, completely renovated and renamed Malayan Bank Building.

During the First Anniversary of the bank, about 2,000 people were invited to a cocktail party in the premises for the celebration. 21 branches had been opened in the Federation, 6 in Singapore and one in Brunei within the first year of operations. Equally remarkable is the bank’s achievement of not only surmounting the tide, but in ending less than a year of actual business activity with a modest profit.

MBB's First Anniversary Advertorial
in the Straits Times, 12.09.1961

Today, Maybank (MYX: 1155), a trade name for Malayan Banking Berhad is the largest bank and financial group in Malaysia, with significant banking operations in Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines.  Maybank is the largest bank in Malaysia with 384 domestic branches and 190 international branches and offices. Maybank is the largest listed company on the Malaysian Stock Exchange, Bursa Malaysia, with a market capitalisation of over RM54 billion (USD22 billion) as of end March 2011. In 2011, Maybank was ranked at 458th  in the Forbes Global 2000 Leading Companies with market cap of USD 20.98 billion.

Party for MACS Boarders in 2010
L-R:  Tan Kok Kee, Dr Lee Lai Hung,
Gan Boon Koo and Yew Yong Chan

While Maybank is a household word among young and old alike, many MACSians including those who do their banking with Maybank, are unaware that founding director Gan Boon Koo is a MACSian, Class of 1947. After his Senior Cambridge (he scored Class 1 with distinction in History of the British Empire), Boon Koo left to further his studies in economics in the United States. He is a graduate of the University of Oregon and the University of California.

According to a Straits Times report of 6th May 1967, he was Deputy Chairman of Singapore Finance Limited, Chairman of Stamford Holdings Ltd, Managing Director of Gan Teng Siew Realty and director of South East Asia Mining Ltd.

Nowadays, Gan Boon Koo still goes to his private office at Gan Teng Siew Realty in Kuala Lumpur regularly to keep busy and abreast of developments.

Below are snap-shots of the CTB Pages on Gan Boon Koo:

An Interview with Mr Chua Cheng Chye

Mr Chua Cheng Chye, Headmaster

of SRK Methodist (ACS), Retired on November 1977

(Reprinted from The Macsian 1977)

Mr Chua Cheng Chye

1951 Photo

 

Autographed back 

of photo      

Q: Mr Chua, were you educated in Anglo-Chinese School, Malacca?

A: No. First I went to the old Victorian Institution, the Batu Road School, Kuala Lumpur, Klang High School and finally the Methodist Boys' School, Kuala Lumpur.

Q: Did you enjoy your school life?

A: Yes, certainly especially my life in the Methodist Boys' School, Kuala Lumpur (MBSKL).

Q: Why of all the schools, you enjoy best at MBSKL?

A: There were quite a number of things I found lacking in the other schools. But I would stress only the important one - that was, the Christian teachings in the school where I learned so much that these influence my life up to this day.

Q: How came that you were a teacher in Anglo-Chinese School Melaka?

A: I passed my Senior Cambridge in 1941. When the Japanese War broke out in the Far East in late 1941, my parents and the family evacuated to Melaka. We stayed in Melaka during the war years. After the war, my parents returned to Kuala Lumpur. I had to stay back for a while because of some family business. During this short while, Dr Ho Seng Ong (founder of the present Anglo-Chinese School, Tranquerah) who knew me, invited me to join the staff of his school in 1946.

Q: Was that the primary or secondary school?

A: At that time the school was known as a Comprehensive School, meaning it had both Primary a well as Secondary.

Mr Chua Cheng Chye in 

Nashville, Tennessee, USA 

on a Crusade Scholarship, 1951

Q: Could you elaborate your presence in Anglo-Chinese School, Melaka up to this time?

A: After being invited to join the staff of the school, Dr Ho Seng Ong encourage me to stay on to complete my Normal Class training as a teacher. As I had no opportunity to go for further studies, I had no choice but to remain in this school. 2 years after completion of my Normal Class training, the Methodist Church, Malaya sent me to United States of America for further studies in one of the Colleges for teachers, in Nashville, Tennessee. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education. When I returned, I continued to serve the school.

Q: To our knowledge, we discovered that you were involved in a good number of activities in the school. What activity or activities kept you on your feet most of the time?

A: First, scouting, followed by what have you in the school.

At the Ayer Keroh Jamboree  

Campsite. 1970

L-R: Tan Nyap Sye, Leong Chew 

Poon, Mr  Chua Cheng Chye, 

Loh Pak Chun and Lee Chow Lin

Q: We understand that you composed the ACS Song. What prompted you to compose it?

A: After my return from United States of America with the training that I had benefitted in music,  I  felt that I  could  do  something  in this field for the school. Actually, it is my love for the school that inspired me to compose it You can find in the words of my song, love, loyalty and the wonderful virtues theschool has. I pray that you boys would be proud to sing it.

Q: In view of the trying times the youth of today are facing, what "philosophy" would you recommend for the present youth?

A: The word "philosophy" has depth, height and width - depending on each individual. But, I would like to recommend this: Always believe there is an Almighty God - Creator and Giver of all good things. Accept this. Then, take the best in life which will benefit you and your fellow men. Always do and give your best, and be of service to the needy. Keep busy doing good.

The First Malacca Boys Brigade with  

Captain Mr Chua Cheng Chye, 1986  

Q: We know you have many achievements in the course of your life experiences. Which one would you like to share with us?

A: One of the significant ones I would like to share with you is this: I praise God and thank Him for the many blessings He has bestowed upon me - one of these is:- To be given the talent and the knowledge to get along with people of all ages and to remain their good friend.

The Macsian: Thank you very much, Mr Chua Cheng Chye.

"One good schoolmaster is worth a thousand priests" 

- Robert G Ingersoll

"An intelligent man cannot accept the theory that personalities create history. In my opinion, many make history and play a considerable part in it only if they understand the peoples' needs and wishes, and insofar as they become part of the people themselves"

- Josip Broz Tito: Quoted by Elanor Rossevelt

"A life without a struggle would be as meat without salt'

- B C Forbes

Mr Chua Cheng Chye celebrating 

his 85th Birthday with old boys in 2007. 

He passed away on  November 7, 2008 

ten days short of his 86th birthday

   

Mr Chua Cheng Chye with Cherokee 

Chief and  friend from Penang, 

in  Tennessee, USA, 1951

Snap-shots of the Chua Cheng Chye Pages in the Coffee Table Book below:

Mr Goh Choon Lim, MA (Principal, 1946 - 1949, 1954 - 1968)

Mr Goh Choon Lim, MA
Photo taken in 1952

Mr Goh Choon Lim, MA (Denver) had taught at least three generations of pupils who  became successful persons serving in and outside the country in many walks of life. He started teaching in Malacca Anglo-Chinese School in 1926. After Normal Class training he attended Raffles College in Singapore and graduated with a Diploma. He succeeded Dr Ho Seng Ong as Principal of MACS in 1946. The school lacked facilities such as science laboratories, a good library and a proper playing field. It was very difficult to get money during the post war years but the rehabilitation of the school was made possible with the help and co-operation from the Methodist Mission, the public, staff and pupils, old boys and well-wishers.

During Mr Goh's tenure, additional land for the school was acquired. More classrooms were built, making a total of 27 classrooms as compared to 12 in the pre-war days. A vocational block was built for the teaching of woodwork and metalwork in 1956. The school field was rehabilitated by the staff and pupils in what was code-named "Operation Cangkul" with minimum cost. With a Capital Grant of $28,400.00 from the Ministry of Education and the kind donation of $15,000.00 from the Lee Foundation as well as donations from old boys and well wishers, two additional wings were constructed in 1960. The school was then able to provide three new science laboratories for the teaching of pure science up to Sixth Form Level and a proper library room. Later a new tuck-shop was built with a Capital Grant of $10,000.00 from the Ministry of Education and a loan from the Methodist Mission. The school was highly rated as one of the top schools in Malacca. The students excelled in the academic field as well as in sports.

Mr Goh Choon Lim
A 1962 photograph

Mr Goh was truly a leader by example who followed the tradition set by Dr Ho Seng Ong whose sons Robert Ho Guan Hai and Dr Edward Ho Guan Lim studied at MACS - his own sons are all MACSians. Goh Tiow Beng, Tiow Seng and Tiow Hoe were outstanding students who all became medical doctors. His daughters Nellie and Ivy Goh became teachers at MACS. His close friends and teaching colleagues Wong Quie Sem and Wong Soon Cheang (headmaster of the primary school from 1959 -1968) did the same – Wong Quie Sem's sons Wong Wai Kwan and Dr Wong Wai Ping are old boys of MACS as is Wong Soon Cheang's son Dr Wong Kong Meng. 

Many of his students also returned to teach at MACS. They included Yoong Yong Pow ('38) who was a Malacca State Doubles Badminton Champion and a World War Two Veteran who went on to become an engineer, a multi-term Malacca State Assemblyman and a Past-President of the MACS OBA; Lim Hong Kuan ('55), a long time MACS teacher who became Principal from 1969-1970 and then an English lecturer in University Malaya; Kuah Beng Choon (‘49) who co-founded the First Malacca Boys Brigade Company and became headmaster of the MACS primary from 1977-1983; Lloyd Tan Poa Chan ('53) who is best remembered as a well-known Scouter and founder of the first Parkinson's support group in Malaysia; Mow Ah Kwee ('53), See Seng Teck ('53), Lim Meng Wah ('53), Yap Cheng Boon ('54), Tan Tai Liew ('56) the biology master and later a Senior Assistant, Tan Guan Hock ('56); Wong Swee Lim ('55) who was headmaster of the primary school from 1983-1992; Yoong Yee Seng ('66) who returned to MACS as Principal from 1998-2005 and is the current Principal of the Wesley Methodist School run by the Methodist Education Council, and many others.

1985 Photo of Mr Goh

After four decades with MACS, Mr Goh was happy to retire, knowing that a new leadership was in place to carry on the administration and traditions of the school. Mr Goh's advice to the pupils of MACS - "Be loyal to the school always! Work hard and success will be yours."

"Our father was devoted to his God, devoted to his family and devoted to his ACS. We are thankful to God for the life, courage and devotion of Goh Choon Lim to the tasks that he was devoted to in Malacca." 

 - Dr Goh Tiow Hoe, MACSian Class of 1961

Malacca ACS Staff circa 1938 at Kubu Road

Standing L-R: Messrs Chung Shark Pick, Goh Choon Lim, Loh Hung Loon, 

Yong Fu Kong, Wong Quie Sem, Chan Ah Beng, Wong Soon Cheang.

Seated: Mdm Chan Kwye Lim (Mrs Yap Chuan Choon), Messrs Wong Tee Chin, 

Lam Yet Seng, Mrs Ho Seng Ong, Dr Ho Seng Ong, Rev Burr H Baughman, 

Mr Chan Ah Him, Miss Wee Lian Neo 

Below is a snap-shot of the pages in the soon to be published Coffee Table Book: