CM pledges to help HSOBA

By MARTIN CARVALHO and CINDY TAN
malacca@thestar.com.my

MALACCA: Former student and Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam has pledged to help the Malacca High School Old Boys Association (HSOBA) following plans by the education authorities here to acquire its clubhouse.

Mohd Ali, who studied at Malacca High School between 1961 and 1967, said he was unaware of the dispute between the school authorities and HSOBA over the use of the clubhouse.

“I will ask the Malacca Education Department for a full report on the matter as I was unaware that HSOBA members had been prevented from using their clubhouse,” he told reporters at his office in Ayer Keroh yesterday.

He added he would personally assist HSOBA, as best as he can, to resolve the issue over the proposed acquisition of the clubhouse.

“The state would be willing to offer them a place on Pulau Melaka.

“I am willing to help them raise the necessary funds through a fundraising dinner,” he said.

When contacted, HSOBA president Manual Gomez said he was glad that Mohd Ali, a HSOBA member, had agreed to look into their plight.

“I am happy that the Chief Minister has agreed to help us.

“We are not against the acquisition but worried that HSOBA would be left out in the streets without a proper clubhouse once it is acquired,“ he said.

He added that the Melaka Tengah Land Office had also agreed to defer the acquisition evaluation exercise fixed on Jan 18 to Feb 9 following an appeal by HSOBA.

Malacca High School, the second oldest school in Malaysia, was established in 1826.

HSOBA, which has 18,000 members, was formed in 1921 with MCA founder Tun Tan Cheng Lock, a former student, appointed its first president.

Problems arose between HSOBA and the school authorities in 2006 when members had difficulty using the clubhouse which is located within the school.