THE Methodist Boys School (MBS) board of governors is embarking on a new building project at its premises in Jalan Air Itam.
This year marks the 131st Anniversary of the founding of MBS, Penang, the oldest Methodist school in Malaysia.
The board aims to raise RM6 million for the project.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who attended the MBS New Building Fund & Commemorative Book Launching Ceremony at the school hall today, said he believed the building fund committee would be able to accomplish it in the shortest possible time.
The launch ceremony, Chow said, was symbolic in some ways as Malaysia Day celebration today.
“All of you come from different backgrounds. This is the essence of Malaysia – unity in diversity.
“Our forefathers came here from very diverse ethnic, religious, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, but that did not deter us to become one people in this nation.
“Each one of us has this responsibility in nation building, and it is a long and tedious process.
“But we have a good foundation laid by our forefathers, the education system, the civil administration system and the health system are in place. Of course, over the years they need to be upgraded to catch up with modern requirements.
“If we work hard as a people, we should be able to continue to grow Malaysia. The country is facing a lot of challenges at the moment and also a lot of competition from our neighbours in terms of economic development.
“And MBS also shares the same trajectory and history; people from all walks of life came together, passed through the gates of MBS and in the process all grew up with the right values that can last us a lifetime,” Chow said during his speech.
MBS board of governors’ chairman Datuk Khoo Cheok Sin said MBS plays a proactive role in unity, embracing diversity and celebrating our rich heritage of culture.
Khoo added that they are eternally grateful to all the teachers for their hard work, including for conducting online teaching during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said the MBS board of governors also helped the school reach out to its needy students and families during the challenging Covid times.
Former Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (Rehda) Penang chairman Datuk Jerry Chan is the MBS Building Committee chairman; OCBC chief executive officer Datuk Ong Eng Bin is the chairman of finance, fund-raising committee and Ooi Gim Ewe is the organising chairman of MBS 131 Celebrations.
Chow later witnessed several major donors presenting mock cheques to Khoo for the building fund.
A total of RM600,000 was pledged.
The breakdown: Datuk Ong Eng Bin (Class of 1980), CEO OCBC, member, Board of Governors (RM100,000); Stanley Lim Hock Ghim (Class of 1981), managing director, Borneo United Enterprise Sdn Bhd; Datuk Khoo Cheok Sin (Class of 1959), chairman, MBS Board of Governors (RM100,000) and an anonymous MBS alumnus (RM100,000).
The others included Datuk Khoo Kay Hock (Class of 1955), an active social activist in the Penang community (RM50,000); Datuk Selvakumar Shanmugam Chetty (Class of 1984), managing director, Shan Poornam Metals Sdn Bhd, who was represented by corporate director Rose Kuan (RM50,000); Walter Goon (Class of 1969), president BP Brotherhood, member, MBS Board of Governors (RM50,000), and Datuk Dr Vaseehar Hassan (Class of 1969) CEO Dallah Albaraka (M) Holdings Sdn Bhd (RM50,000).
Chow, as the guest of honour, was later given the honour to unveil the commemorative book, titled Embracing Diversity.
“I’m sure you can find a lot of treasures in this book and we hope to benefit from the rich legacy and history of MBS serving Penang,” Chow added.
Ooi Gim Ewe, Lim Bee Lee, David ST Loh and Rebecca Loh were involved with the commemorative book project.
Chow was later ushered to the school’s Hall of Fame in the Heritage Centre which showcased numerous prominent personalities.
They include former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, former Chief Minister Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon, badminton greats Datuk Teh Kew San, brothers Tan Aik Huang and Aik Mong, internationally acclaimed artist Abdullah Ariff, former Olympian Tamboo Krishnan, first Malaysian woman to helm Maybank (a Fortune 500 company) Datuk Mohaiyani Shamsudi and vice-chancellor Tan Sri Dr Sahol Hamid.
As MBS, which started from a humble beginning in 1891, goes about its fund-raising campaign for the new building, the pioneering spirit of Reverend G.F. Pykett lives on as the school strives to produce more outstanding citizens with courage and character.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Siew Chia En