THE new school hall at St Xavier’s Institution (SXI) at Lebuh Farquhar in George Town has been named as ‘Karpal Singh Hall’ in memory of the late ‘Tiger of Jelutong’ Karpal Singh.
SXI Board of Governors chairman Victor Tan Seang Hin said the 1,700sq ft hall can accommodate up to about 180 people at any one time.
“The new hall is located at the new school block. The cost for the new block is RM1.4 million which also includes the cost for the new hall which is around RM500,000.
“It was constructed in 2015 and completed in 2017. In total, we have two halls in the school.
“With the new hall, it would enable the students here to hold any co-curricular activities and small events.
“We name the new hall as Karpal Singh Hall because Mr Karpal was a student here in the 60s.
“He was a normal student but what an exemplary life he had led. We want this hall to be a beacon and an example for all students who walk and may walk through its corridors that you don’t have to be great now but stick to good values and principles and life will definitely take care of itself,” Tan said in his speech during the opening ceremony of the hall at the school today.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who was present to officiate the new hall, was delighted that the SXI management decided to name the new hall in honour of the late Karpal Singh for his sacrifices for the state and country.
“Most importantly, it is an effective way of commemorating the late Karpal’s fighting spirit and sense of justice.
“As a graduate from St Xavier’s Institution in 1960, Karpal learned the importance of abiding to principles and values. Such a value system and the belief in doing the right thing no matter what the odds were, had stood him in good stead as he practised law and answered the calling of public service later on in life.
“Despite the highs and lows of his political life, one thing is for sure, he never backed down from a good fight in defending the Federal Constitution.
“Even towards the end of his life, he remained steadfast as the moral guardian of the DAP and upheld the true conscience of the two-party system in our national politics. That is the Karpal Singh we will always remember deep in our hearts!
“And I hope that memories of him will live on in perpetuity and serve as a reminder to future Xaverians to emulate him for what he stood for,” Chow said in his speech today.
In the same occasion, Chow also announced the RM50,000 allocation for the school.
“The allocation is from my Padang Kota service centre,” he said.
Also present were state Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo, Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh, Karpal’s wife Gurmit Kaur, SXI brother director Brother Jason Blaikie, SXI principal Goh Hong Peng and Old Xaverian Association chairman Datuk Khoo Khay Seang.
Gurmit thanked St Xavier’s Institution for the recognition.
“On behalf of my late husband, I would like to say thank you to the SXI management for this special recognition.
“Karpal had spent most of his younger days in this school. This school not only gave him education but also made him the man whom we all know.
“To him also, the school was like his second family. He always spoke fondly about his school, especially to his family members.
“He may not be with us today, but I am sure he was very happy and proud to have gotten his education here and this recognition now,” she said.
Jagdeep also thanked the school management for its efforts in honouring his father.
On a separate matter, Chow said the Penang government had spent a total of RM834,000 to assist 19 mission schools in the state this year.
“This shows that the state government has never lost sight of the conditions and importance of mission schools in Penang.
“These schools are a priceless heritage to our education system with a value system that has moulded generations of fine men and women who had became pillars of the nation.
“It remains the objective of the state government that our mission schools will be well-equipped and remain competitive.
“We want the future generation to be men and women of substance who will do the right thing at all times just like the late Karpal Singh!” he added.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Law Suun Ting
Video by Alissala Thian