The Big Three

After much research to gather content for the Coffee Table Book, I have become very convinced that very little had been done to highlight and remember the good work of our past leaders. Indeed there is a great lack of information, articles and photographs of these personalities in the school’s archives. I must admit that before embarking on this project, I had no idea who Dr Ho Seng Ong was, how he looked like and what he did for the school. Now, I can see that the three most outstanding persons who have devoted much of their lives and played very important roles in developing Malacca ACS and moulding the lives and future of their students  were Dr Ho Seng Ong, Mr Goh Choon Lim and Mr Chua Cheng Chye. Under their leadership, MACS produced many outstanding and respectable persons whether in service to their community, the school, state, country and society at large.

Dr Ho Seng Ong

Dr Ho Seng Ong, OBE, EdD, MA, PRGS,  was the Principal of Malacca ACS from 20th January, 1930 to 31st August, 1946. The then Mr Ho was a brilliant scholar and experienced teacher from Methodist Boys School Kuala Lumpur.  He started the boarding school in Tranquerah Road to cater for boys from the Alor Gajah, Jasin, Tangkak and other outstation areas and other states. The school’s enrolment grew quickly and in 1940, he launched a campaign to raise funds for a new building. The main school building built on a 7 acre site in Tranquerah as it stands today was officially opened in November 1941. We owe a debt of gratitude to Mr Ho for this efforts to give our Alma-mater a home of her own. 

Dr Ho’s influence was not confined only to Malacca ACS. After MACS, he was Principal of ACS Ipoh, ACS Penang and Methodist Boys School Kuala Lumpur. He then served as the Education Secretary of the Methodist Mission (More on Dr Ho to follow on accompanying posts).

Mr Goh Choon Lim

Mr Goh Choon Lim, MA succeeded Mr Ho Seng Ong as Principal in 1946. He continued with the rehabilitation of the school from the ravages suffered during the years under Japanese occupation. Under his leadership, the teachers and students of Malacca ACS cooperated in "Operation Cangkul" to restore MACS to its condition before the war. It was under Mr Goh Choon Lim’s watch that MACS grew rapidly to become a leading school in Malacca and one of the leading and larger Methodist schools in the country. The enrolment in the primary school alone was above 1,000 pupils per year during the 1960s.

Mr Goh was the first Principal who was an alumnus of the school. His three sons were all enrolled in Malacca ACS and were outstanding students of their time both in academic, sports and extra-curricular activities. His daughters studied in the Methodist Girls' School and later taught at Malacca ACS (More on Mr Goh to follow on accompanying posts).

Mr Chua Cheng Chye

Mr Chua Cheng Chye, BSc (Ed) became a teacher at Malacca ACS after the war in 1946 at the invitation of Dr Ho Seng Ong. He was the Headmaster of the MACS Primary from 1968 till 1977. Mr Chua was an old boy of the Methodist Boys School Kuala Lumpur where he passed his Senior Cambridge examination in 1941. When the Japanese invaded Malaya, his family evacuated to Malacca where he stayed on after the war. Mr Chua loved teaching and had made it known that he would never change it for any other profession. A bachelor, he dedicated and enjoyed his best years in the school right till the end. Scouting, music, counselling and the Boys Brigade took all of his free time. Even long after retirement, he continued to place the interests and well-being of his students ahead of his own, travelling up and down the country organising meetings and conferences for the church youth movements and the Boys Brigade. 

Mr Chua composed our School Song “Dear ACS O Glorious Name” together with colleague Mr Chye Khooi Khean. Mr Chua wrote: “…. You can find in the words of my song, love, loyalty and the wonderful virtues the school has. I pray that you boys will be proud to sing it”  (More on Mr Chua to follow on accompanying posts).