Malacca High School

Malacca High School (MHS, High School) 马六甲高等中学 SMK Tinggi Melaka
Location
Jalan Chan Koon Cheng, 75000 Malacca Town, [Malacca], Malaysia
Information
Type	Public day school
Motto	Latin: Meliora Hic Sequamur (Here we strive for better things)
Established	1826
Founder	Mr. Thomas H. Moor
School district	Melaka Tengah (Central Melaka)
Principal	Tn Hj Abdul Razak B Che Ngah
Medium of language	English, Malay
Classrooms	60 approx
Campus	Urban
Colour(s)	Mauve and green
Yearbook	The Optimist
Affiliation	Xin Min Secondary School, Singapore (Sister school)
Website	Official site

Malacca High School was founded on December 7, 1826. The school emblem is a stylized version of the gateway to A Famosa, the old Portuguese fortress which surrounded a hill near the harbor. Malacca High School is the second oldest school and one of the premier schools in Malaysia. Nowadays, Malacca High School was announced as one of the cluster schools in Malaysia. It is also the birthplace of the Ossydian Bull.

History

Date and background of establishment

On December 7, 1826, Malacca High School (MHS) was officially established; just after Malacca was made an English colony on March 17, 1824, when the Dutch ceded Malacca to the English after the Bencoolen Treaty in 1824.

Malacca High School is the second oldest government English school in Malaysia.

The establishment of the school was initiated by Mr. Thomas H. Moor who came to Malacca in 1825 on orders by Milne who was one of the educators at the Anglo Chinese College. In his letter dated 4th. January 1825, he stated his wishes to Arundel in London to establish a school. The establishment of the school was also supported by some influential people including James Humphrey, a Superintendent in the London Society’s Mission. The startup of Malacca High School was directly related to the closing of the Dutch-Malay school which was established in January 1819 by Christian missionary during the Dutch reign. The school was closed when Malacca was handed over to the English by the Dutch.

Locations of Malacca High School

After the establishment of Malacca High School on 7 December 1826, the school was located at Personage House – The current Youth Museum of Malacca. In the history of the school, it moved twice, in 1884 and 1931. The move was caused by the increase in students population.

In 1884, the school shifted to a new building at the former High Court building as the old building was unsuitable for the growing student population. This building was built under the leadership of F.C. Shepberd since 1882 d but can only accommodate 200 students.

The idea of building Malacca High School at the Kubu field was cancelled when the late Tuan Haji Bachee bin Ahmad offered to sell a plot of land to the authorities.

In 1928, the new school premises at Jalan Chan Koon Cheng (the current location) was built, which included the cost of land. The building was equipped with a teachers’ house.

The 2-storey school was constructed by an engineer in the form of the letter E, which symbolises an English School. In 1934, additions were made to the building. The government constructing the quarters of the Boarding Master, car parks and an armoury for weapons storage and a cadet room.

Early students at MHS

MHS began its history with 18 male students and was open to all races in Malacca. It was also open to all students in the then Malaya.

In 1826, MHS admitted girls for the first time, when 65 girls were registered. However, in 1834, the admission of girls’ students had to be halted when Miss Wallaca who replaced Maria Newell left the school for Canton, China. Since that date, the school did not admit girls because of lack of teaching facilities.

Most of the students originated from Malacca Town and her surrounding areas such as Klebang, Limbongan, Bukit Rambai, Ujong Pasir, Masjid Tanah, Alor Gajah and other districts. Since 1826 until World War II, students’ intake seldom reached 500 students except in 1907 when the student population reached 505. After the war, the school expanded. Today, MHS has a student enrolment of 2000 students.

Hostels

The hostel of MHS were built in 1924 and the Principal was Mr. C.G. Coleman. It could only accommodate 60 students. In 1972, the Ministry of Education introduced the Student's Special Programme (Pelajar Rancangan Khas). Students in Malacca who achieved good results in the Standard Five Evaluation Test (Penilaian Darjah Lima) were placed in MHS. There were 80 students who were placed in this programme.

In 1975, the old hostel was demolished to make way for the building of the school's hall. The new hostel was built at the back of the school compound and named Special Programme Hostel (Asrama Rancangan Khas). The hostel's population was 118 students. Another hostel building was built in 1983. The students who enrolled in the hostel at that time numbered 300. The hostel facilities include the mosque, a restroom, a clinic, an air-conditioned library, an AV room, a cyber cafe, a dining hall and a VIP hall.

The hostel was named the MHS Boys' Hostel (Asrama Putera Sekolah Tinggi Melaka) in 1985 and was renamed Tan Sri Datuk Wira Abdul Rahman Arshad Hostel, after the former Director - General of Education, who was an MHS student from 1948 until 1956.

School field

From 1975 to 1979, a school field expansion project was undertaken by the Public Works Department (Jabatan Kerja Raya) to an area covering about 5 acres (20,000 m²). This expansion has made the field the largest school field in Malacca. It has two football/rugby fields, running track, an indoor hockey turf, a basketball court and a tennis court.

School hall

In 1974, the school hall project was approved by the Ministry of Education. It was cancelled, then the school authorities appealed for extra budget because the school needed a larger hall to accommodate the increasing amount of students.

With the initiative taken by the school's Board of Governors, teachers and the Parents - Teachers Association (PTA), the school organized a "Walkathon" in September 1977 to get donations from the public. From the donations, the PTA, the Board of Governors as well as Malacca High School Old Boys' Association (MAHSOBA), launched the Malacca High School Hall Building Fund. The school hall was built, and opened by the former Governor of Malacca, Tun Syed Zahiruddin bin Syed Hassan al - Haj on 7 March 1981. The hall has four badminton courts.

Mosque

The school mosque project was initiated in 1982, after the completion of the school hall. The former PTA chairman, Datuk Idris Abdul Ghani, with the help of other committee members, Muslim parents, teachers and students, as well as the public had contributed towards the mosque project. With the addition of funds from the School Development Fund, the mosque was completed in October 1984.

Later development

Projects include the renovation of the Drawing Room into Professional Room (1988), the building of the Wawasan and Budi block, the school gateway arch (1995), the renovation of a part of the library into Staff Room B (1998), the building of the Pintar block (2000), the additional building on the canteen, the podium (Astaka) at the school field, the repair works on the west wing on the Warisan block that was damaged in a fire in June 2000, as well as a two-storey computer lab on the former volleyball and basketball court. The school library also had its roof collapse in 2010 causing repairs to be done on the entire block including the teacher's room and library. NO ONE DIED BY THE WAY!

School mottos

Meliora hic sequamur

This motto stands for "Here we strive for better things". The motto was introduced by the Principal of Malacca High School Mr. L.W. Arnold. He was stationed in the school from 1931 to 1934. The use of the motto coincided with the shifting of the school from the High Court Building to the current location. The official opening of the school was in October 1931.

Sini terdidiknya manusia

(Translation: this is where humans are educated) This motto was introduced in line with the government's efforts to promote the usage of Bahasa Malaysia among the people by the former principal, Tuan Haji Abdul Rafie bin Mahat in 1989.

We are the best

This motto was introduced by a former Principal, Tuan Haji Mohammad bin Ismail in 1991.

Mesra, hormat, sayang

(Literal translation: congeniality, respect and love) This motto was introduced by a former Principal, Tuan Haji Noh bin Haji Ahmad in 2001.

High School Cemerlang, Pelajar Terbilang

This motto was introduced by the Principal, Tuan Haji Abdul Razak bin Che Ngah. A direct translation of this would be Excellent High School, Distinguished Students.

School emblem

The school emblem was introduced in 1931. During this time the School Board of Governors was established and the motto “Meliora Hic Sequamur” was established. Originally, the school emblem reflected ‘History,’Resilence’ and ‘Strength’.

The ‘A Famosa’ logo was used and the colour of green and maroon were used. At the bottom of the logo, ‘ Meliora Hic Sequamur‘ was etched. At the beginning, this logo was used by the school prefects only but from 1970 all students wear the logo. Logo for all = more cash.....

School Anthem

The school anthem shares the same tune as the American patriotic song America The Beautiful. Unfortunately, its not nearly as good.

Sekolah Tinggi Melaka keseluruh negara
Beramai-ramai kita dukung rukun negara
Satu padu bertenaga majukan negara
Prinsip hidup progresif amalan sekolah kita

Sejak lapan belas dua enam namamu terbina
Sepanjang masa kemuka mulia dan bahagia
Sekolah Tinggi, Sekolah Tinggi, Tempatmu berbakti
Perpaduan, bercahaya, kekalan abadi.

A contextual translation would be:

Malacca High School to the whole nation
Massively, we uphold the country's ideology
United and energetic, we develop the country
Progressive principles of life are our school's custom

Your name was established since 1826
Throughout this time you've been noble and joyful
High School, High School, you're a place of contribution
Radiant unity endures for eternity.

List of school principals

• 1826 - Mr. T.H. Moor
• 1843 - Mr. John Overee
• 1862 - Mr. T. Smith
• 1878 - Mr. A. Armstrong
• 1893 - Mr. J. Howell
• 1916 - Mr. C.F.C. Ayre
• 1921 - Mr. C. Beamish
• 1924 - Mr. C.G. Coleman
• 1930 - Mr. T.A.O. Sullivan
• 1931 - Mr. L.W. Arnold
• 1934 - Mr. L.A.S. Jermyn
• 1941 - Mr. C.A. Scott, Mr. Lee Chin Lin
• 1945 - Mr. Goh Tiow Chong
• 1946 - Mr. C. Foster, Mr. C.J. Gurney
• 1950 - Mr. G.P. Dartford
• 1952 - Mr. F.T. Laidlaw, Mr. E.H. Bromley
• 1956 - Mr. A. Atkinson
• 1957 - Mr. W. Gibson
• 1958 - Mr. K. Kandiah, Mr. Ee Tiang Hong
• 1960 - Mr. C.T. Wade, Mr. Goh Keat Seng
• 1965 - Mr. Tan Teik Hock
• 1969 - Mr. Lim Leng Lee
• 1970 - Mr. K. Anandarajan
• 1972 - Mr. Chan Ying Tat
• 1985 - Tn. Haji Abdul Rafie bin Haji Mahat
• 1991 - Tn. Haji Mohammad bin Ismail
• 1994 - Tn. Haji Hussin bin Abdul Hamid
• 1996 - En. Mohd Zin bin Abdul Hamid
• 1998 - Tn. Haji Othman bin Ibrahim
• 2000 - Tn. Haji Noh bin Haji Ahmad
• 2001 - Tn. Haji Ya'amah bin Mohd Dris
• 2003 - En. Mohd Ali bin Saed
• 2006 - En. Yusof bin Haji Ahmad
• 1 November 2006 - Tn. Haji Abd. Razak bin Che Ngah

Notable Alumni

Arguably one of the oldest educational institution in Malaysia, Malacca High School has produced graduates who excel in many fields. Many prominent politicians, royal family members, activists, educators and so on are Malacca High School alumni. Following is a brief list of some of the notable alumni taken from the book Our Story, Malacca High School 1826-2006 published by MHS Anniversary. ^[1] Its alumni body is also no short of history makers like the first Malayan Chief Police Officer, the late Talif Lisut, the first Chinese commando pioneer in the Malaysian Armed Forces, Lt.-Col Chua Hong Kang, the oldest player to score hole-in-one, hotelier Datuk H.M. Shah, and recently the first from an ethnic minority to become the fourth woman High Sheriff in Britain, Lady Monjulee Webb.

Politics and Civil Service

• Lim Guan Eng (who also went to Batu Pahat High School)
• Datuk Wira Mohd Ali Rustam (Malacca Chief Minister)
• M.K. Rajakumar
• Tun Tan Cheng Lock (one of the founding fathers of Malaysia)
• Datuk Tan Cheng Swee (Chairman, MCA Malacca State Liaison Committee, 1963-76; Treasurer-General, MCA headquarters 1968-1976; and

Vice-president, MCA, 1970-76; former chief minister of Malacca)

• Tun Tan Siew Sin(former Minister of Commerce and Industry, Finance Minister and former president of the Malayan Chinese Association (MCA)^[2]
• Tun Abdullah Salleh (Former Chief Secretary to the Government)
• Yong Poh Chye (Executive director of Tax Advisory and Management Services Sdn Bhd and an adjunct professor of Universiti Putra Malaysia

Activism

• Tan Sri Hasmy Agam (chairman of SUHAKAM and executive chairman of the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR), which is under the Foreign Ministry.)
• John Koh Seng Siew (secretary of Malacca High School Geographical Society, president of the Art Club (1964) and secretary

of the Prefects Board in 1965/66, A King Scout and Troop Leader in 1964, vice-president of Friends of Heritage of Malaysia Society (1987/90 and 1993/95) and a honorary council member of Badan Warisan Malaysia Trust (1995 to 1997). He is also on the Board of Trustees Malaysian Nature Society.

Economy and Business

• Datuk Rastam Hadi (former Deputy Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia and former managing director of Petronas)
• Ong Sek Pek (School captain and editor of The Optimist in 1948, President of the HSOBA (1959-66) and chairman of the Board of Governors (1969-82))
• Tan Sri Geh Ik Cheong (The editor of The Optimist 1941, trustee of the Kuok Foundation and Chairman of Development and Commercial Bank Bhd)
• Datuk Mohd Said Ali (former Chief Executive Officer of Telekom Malaysia)

Law

• Tan Sri Lal Chand Vohrah (ad litem judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, Judge of the High Court of Malaya, Chairman of the Special Commissioners of Income Tax and Co-editor of Man's Inhumanity to Man)

Literature

• Shirley Geok-Lin Lim (UCLA Professor of English who chairs the School of Education of UCLA, winner of Commonwealth Poetry Prize and National Book Award)

Education

• Professor Datuk Dr Ibrahim Abu Shah (Universiti Teknologi Mara Vice-Chancellor)
• Professor Emeritus Tan Wang Seng (University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada; currently dean of School of Science and Technology, Wawasan Open University, Penang)
• Leo Ann Mean (Senior Consultant with the Institute of Training and Development, Honorary Associate Professor at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman and Adjunct Professor at the University of South Australia)

Medicine

• Professor Anthony S.Y. Leong (Chairman of the Discipline of Anatomical Pathology at the University of Newcastle, Australia; Fellow of the Royal Colleges of Pathologists of Australasia and the United Kingdom, the College of American Pathologists and the American Society of Clinical Pathology.)

Sports

• Major General (Rtd) Datuk Shaharuddin Mohd Ali
• Robert Choe
• Ismail Ali
• Ong Cheng Watt (gold medal in the 1954 Malaysian AAA championships in Long Jump)

Miscellaneous

• Julian Chee, Ben Chiew and Peter Eu (co-authors of World Polymer Banknotes — A Standard Reference)
• Tan Sri Datuk Wira Abdul Rahman Arshad

Extra-curricular Activities

There are now 13 uniform units. Among them are Scouts, Red Crescent Society, Cadet Corps, Police Cadets, Fire Brigade Cadets, Band, Silat Seni Gayong, Crime Busters Club, JPA3, Girl Rangers, Library Prefects and Students’ Council.

Sports Houses

The house system was introduced in 1923. Every student was assigned a “house” named after historical figures. The sports houses in the school are:

• Famosa
• Raffles
• Minto
• St Francis
• Van Dieman
• Albuquerque

There is also another house known as NH. It literally means no house. The house "Albuquerque" is known to make people confused over its pronunciation.

Further reading

• Malacca High School The Optimist School Magazines
• Our Story' Malacca High School (1826-2006)

External links

• EarthExplode.Org - Information
• Official website
• MHS alumni portal
• MHS Old Pupils in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor (MAHSOPA)
• Tourism Melaka

References

1. ^ Our Story, Malacca High School 1826-2006 (by Chua Bok Chye)
2. ^ http://www.tourism-melaka.com/tuntansiewsin.pdf

• MHS Official Site
• MHS The Optimist School Magazines
• EarthExplode.Org Retrieved on 2007-5-31
• EEOrg - History of MHS Retrieved on 2007-5-31
• EEOrg - MHS Buddhist Society Retrieved on 2007-5-31