Saturday, August 30, 2014

MERDEKA AND MALAYSIA DAY

In 1 day's time, Malaysians from all walks of life, creed, religion and races will celebrate our 57th. Anniversary of Independence Day or Merdeka Day. We achieved our Independence from Britain through negotiation and compromise from all Malaysian under the leadership of Tunku Abdul Rahman.

At the same time, we celebrate our Malaysia Day on 16th. September 2014.

Over these 57 years, Malaya then and Malaysia now has gone through many challenges including the MH370 and MH17 tragedies. However, with the co-operation of the three main groups within Malaysia, we have managed to overcome these challenges. We prospered, work, play and live in harmony over these years and built Malaysia into what is today.

Many challenges lie ahead. Europe is in a state of uncertainty due to the Eurozone problems and Ukranian situation. USA's economy is still not robust enough while in Asia, China's growth is slowing.

Malaysians must unite together and face these challenges head-on. With all Malaysians working together in unison, we can overcome these external threats. Besides that, we need to overcome internal conflicts within Malaysia herself.

Peace and Harmony within Malaysia is important. We must maintain and improve our economic, social and financial goals so that Malaysians of future generations can enjoy the peace and prosperity built by our ancestors in our years ahead.

SELAMAT MERDEKA AND HAPPY MALAYSIA DAY!!!

Friday, August 8, 2014

CONGRATS TO TAN SRI FOR HIS APPOINTMENT TO CHAIR NATIONAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL FROM 2014-2016

11 appointed to Education Advisory Council for 2014-2016 5 AUGUST 2014 @ 2:56 PM
PUTRAJAYA: Eleven people prominent in various fields have been appointed as members of the National Education Advisory Council (MPPK) for 2014-2016, effective Aug 1.
They are Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Pro-Chancellor and former director-general of education Tan Sri Dr Abdul Rahman Arshad, who will also chair the council; National Council of Professors chairman Tan Sri Dr Zakri Abdul Hamid; National Population and Family Development Board chairman Tan Sri Napsiah Omar; Islamic Dakwah Foundation of Malaysia president Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki; Malaysian Employers Federation executive director Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan; Gazprom Marketing & Trading Pte Ltd (Singapore) Asia Pacific managing director Datuk Mohammad Medan Abdullah.
Universiti Tun Abdul Razak founder Datuk Hassan Harun; Universiti Malaysia Sabah vice-chancellor Datuk Prof Dr Mohd Harun Abdullah; Institute of the Malay World and Civilisation of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) principal research fellow Datuk Prof Dr Teo Kok Seong; UKM Institute of Ethnic Studies principal research fellow Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria and Sekolah Menengah Sri KDU principal Datin Ong Guan Siew or better known as Datin A.K. Chan.
Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin handed them their letters of appointment here today.

Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin having a light moment with Tan Sri Dr Abdul Rahman Arshad (second from right) who will chair the National Education Advisory Council after the ceremony in PutrajayaPix by Fariz Iswadi Ismail



Wednesday, August 6, 2014

A LETTER FROM MHS HEADBOY 1973

HERITAGE: Relocating school means relocating history 6 AUGUST 2014 @ 8:08 AM

THANK you for highlighting the issue of the proposed relocation of my beloved alma mater, Malacca High School: “Outcry over bid to relocate school” (NST, July 31).

Please consider the lyrics of the Malacca High School song:

Sekolah Tinggi Melaka keseluruh Negara,

Beramai ramai kita dukung Rukunegara,

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,

Tempat mu berbakti,

Perpaduan, bercahaya, kekalan abadi

The lyrics tell the world how much this school has done to nurture all its students since 1826. Great people have come from this school. They are all over the world today. My five brothers and I attended Malacca High School.

History was made many times at this very site where MHS stands today. Now there are plans to relocate it. Do not relocate history. There may be economical reasons behind it, but money isn’t everything.

Abdul Rahim Abd Aziz, MHS headboy, 1973

Webmaster : If I am not mistaken, the above lyrics were written by our famous Cikgu Tahir.

BESIDES MHS, OTHER HERITAGE SCHOOLS TO REMAIN AS WELL

Published: Thursday August 7, 2014 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated: Thursday August 7, 2014 MYT 8:09:24 AM

MHS and five other schools to stay put, says Malacca

   
MALACCA: Not only is Malacca High School (MHS) staying put where it has stood for 188 years, so are five other schools that are considered educational institutions with high heritage value.
They are SRK and SMK St Francis Institution (SFI), SRK and SMK Infant Jesus Convent (IJC) and SRK Banda Hilir.
The Malacca government has decided that there will be no relocation or extensive renovations for the educational institutions which are situated within the Unesco heritage site.
The decision to preserve these schools was finalised during the weekly exco meeting held here yesterday.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron said that even altering the signage of these schools should be done according to stringent procedures.
Idris also said it was a miscommunication that had led to the issuance of a letter to MHS, which is the second oldest school in the country, on July 22 without the consent of the Chief Minister’s office.
The letter caused a hue and cry and the supposed relocation of the school was scrapped

MALACCA HOCKEY SCHOOL LIVES ON

Published: Wednesday August 6, 2014 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated: Wednesday August 6, 2014 MYT 8:35:35 AM

Malacca’s hockey school lives on

MHS popular hockey master P. Poonendarajah gleaning over the schools'   hockey exploits of the yesteryears.
MHS popular hockey master P. Poonendarajah gleaning over the schools' hockey exploits of the yesteryears.
   
MALACCA: The news that the proposed relocation of the country’s second oldest school - Malacca High School (MHS) - has been shelved by the Malacca Government and would remain at the site along Jalan Chan Koon Cheng, where it stood for 188 years and in core midst of the UNESCO Banda Hilir Heritage Site - certainly comes as wonderful news to legions of alumni members, particularly hockey activists, both local and outstation.
The second oldest educational institution after Penang Free School (founded in 1817), MHS, also affectionately known as the Malacca Hockey School in local sports circles, has not only produced dozens of prominent politicians, royal family members, activist of sorts, academicians but national sportsmen galore, particularly hockey stalwarts, with several of whom making it to the highest level of international competitions - the Olympic Games.
Beginning in the 50s, when Malaya first competed at hockey at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, the now late Bakar Said of Kampong Banda Kaba a stone’s throw away from the school field, set the game’s playing credentials list into motion with the late Chua Boon Huat, the latest of a scroll of national hockey talents nurtured at MHS.
Bakar, then played for Malaya between 1948 and 1952 and was drafted into the training squad for the Melbourne Olympics but failed to make the final cut. Among the school’s list of illustrious players are three double hockey Olympians - Koh Hock Seng (1964 Tokyo and 1968 Mexico City), Yang Siow Meng (1968 Mexcico City and 1972 Munich) and Lim Chiow Chuan (1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta).
Chua played in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and if not for his demise could have made the grade like his notable predecessors, as Malaysia is involved in qualifier tournaments beginning this year to make the cut for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Nevertheless, his credentials etched todate would be hard to match. He comes from a rare breed of MHS talents who has chalked up many “firsts” since making his national debut in 1998 at the Kuala Commonwealth Games where a silver medal was bagged.
Chua, also skippered the national team at the 2001 Junior World Cup in Hobart, Tasmania and then went on to play for the senior side at the 2002 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur and the Karachi Champions Trophy meet a year earlier. He also donned national colours at the 1998 Bangkok and 2002 Busan Asian Games, the Champions Challenge I and II (Kuala Lumpur 2001 and Johannesburg 2003) and also the 2001 Kuala Lumput SEA Games. He also featured a record 11 times in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup series in Ipoh.
Close-up of page of the school's 180th anniversary year souvenir publication relating to two proudest moments of bygone years. One photo shows  Poonendarajah (seated) with the schools' five players (Ali Hassan, Goh Tiong  Hui, Danny Saurajan, Yang Siow Meng and Koh Hock Seng) who made the starting eleven of the Federation Combined Schools team in the mid sixties. The other photo shows the MHS Under 18 outfit as the 1965 Malacca Inter Schools hockey champs.
Close- up of page of the school’s 180th anniversary year souvenir publication relating to two proudest moments of bygone years. One photo shows Poonendarajah (seated) with the schools’ five players (Ali Hassan, Goh Tiong Hui, Danny Saurajan, Siow Meng and Hock Seng) who made the starting eleven of the Federation Combined Schools team in the mid sixties. The other photo shows the MHS Under-18 outfit as the 1965 Malacca Inter Schools hockey champs.
The other MHS produced talents that donned national colours include Benny Tan Soon Seng (1986 Seoul Asian Games and 1988 Azlan Shah Cup series), Goh Tiong Hui (played for Malaya (B) in the 1963 Test series against Singapore), Haricharan Singh (donned Malaysia colours at the 1985 Brunei Games), Ismail Ali (turned out for Malaysia in 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta), M.Selvanathan (donned Malaysia colours at the Asia Cup in Lahore and the Junior World Cup in Paris, both in 1982), M.P.Haridas (played for Malaysia in the 1970 Bangkok Asian Games), Micheal Goh Doh Jin (played for Malaya (B) in the 1960 Test series agains Singapore and the 1964 Tokyo Olympics), Tam Chiew Seng (donned Malaysia colours in the 1982 World Cup in Bombay and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics), Tham Kong Onn (donned Malaysia colours at the 1962 Jakarta Asian Games), Tham Yeow Kong (played for Malaysia at the1979 Junior World Cup) Teoh Choo Beng (donned Malaysia colours at the SEA Regional Games in Singapore).
Published: Wednesday August 6, 2014 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated: Wednesday August 6, 2014 MYT 8:35:35 AM

Malacca’s hockey school lives on

MHS popular hockey master P. Poonendarajah gleaning over the schools'   hockey exploits of the yesteryears.
MHS popular hockey master P. Poonendarajah gleaning over the schools' hockey exploits of the yesteryears.
   
MALACCA: The news that the proposed relocation of the country’s second oldest school - Malacca High School (MHS) - has been shelved by the Malacca Government and would remain at the site along Jalan Chan Koon Cheng, where it stood for 188 years and in core midst of the UNESCO Banda Hilir Heritage Site - certainly comes as wonderful news to legions of alumni members, particularly hockey activists, both local and outstation.
The second oldest educational institution after Penang Free School (founded in 1817), MHS, also affectionately known as the Malacca Hockey School in local sports circles, has not only produced dozens of prominent politicians, royal family members, activist of sorts, academicians but national sportsmen galore, particularly hockey stalwarts, with several of whom making it to the highest level of international competitions - the Olympic Games.
Beginning in the 50s, when Malaya first competed at hockey at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, the now late Bakar Said of Kampong Banda Kaba a stone’s throw away from the school field, set the game’s playing credentials list into motion with the late Chua Boon Huat, the latest of a scroll of national hockey talents nurtured at MHS.
Bakar, then played for Malaya between 1948 and 1952 and was drafted into the training squad for the Melbourne Olympics but failed to make the final cut. Among the school’s list of illustrious players are three double hockey Olympians - Koh Hock Seng (1964 Tokyo and 1968 Mexico City), Yang Siow Meng (1968 Mexcico City and 1972 Munich) and Lim Chiow Chuan (1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta).
Chua played in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and if not for his demise could have made the grade like his notable predecessors, as Malaysia is involved in qualifier tournaments beginning this year to make the cut for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Nevertheless, his credentials etched todate would be hard to match. He comes from a rare breed of MHS talents who has chalked up many “firsts” since making his national debut in 1998 at the Kuala Commonwealth Games where a silver medal was bagged.
Chua, also skippered the national team at the 2001 Junior World Cup in Hobart, Tasmania and then went on to play for the senior side at the 2002 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur and the Karachi Champions Trophy meet a year earlier. He also donned national colours at the 1998 Bangkok and 2002 Busan Asian Games, the Champions Challenge I and II (Kuala Lumpur 2001 and Johannesburg 2003) and also the 2001 Kuala Lumput SEA Games. He also featured a record 11 times in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup series in Ipoh.
Close-up of page of the school's 180th anniversary year souvenir publication relating to two proudest moments of bygone years. One photo shows  Poonendarajah (seated) with the schools' five players (Ali Hassan, Goh Tiong  Hui, Danny Saurajan, Yang Siow Meng and Koh Hock Seng) who made the starting eleven of the Federation Combined Schools team in the mid sixties. The other photo shows the MHS Under 18 outfit as the 1965 Malacca Inter Schools hockey champs.
Close- up of page of the school’s 180th anniversary year souvenir publication relating to two proudest moments of bygone years. One photo shows Poonendarajah (seated) with the schools’ five players (Ali Hassan, Goh Tiong Hui, Danny Saurajan, Siow Meng and Hock Seng) who made the starting eleven of the Federation Combined Schools team in the mid sixties. The other photo shows the MHS Under-18 outfit as the 1965 Malacca Inter Schools hockey champs.
The other MHS produced talents that donned national colours include Benny Tan Soon Seng (1986 Seoul Asian Games and 1988 Azlan Shah Cup series), Goh Tiong Hui (played for Malaya (B) in the 1963 Test series against Singapore), Haricharan Singh (donned Malaysia colours at the 1985 Brunei Games), Ismail Ali (turned out for Malaysia in 1962 Asian Games in Jakarta), M.Selvanathan (donned Malaysia colours at the Asia Cup in Lahore and the Junior World Cup in Paris, both in 1982), M.P.Haridas (played for Malaysia in the 1970 Bangkok Asian Games), Micheal Goh Doh Jin (played for Malaya (B) in the 1960 Test series agains Singapore and the 1964 Tokyo Olympics), Tam Chiew Seng (donned Malaysia colours in the 1982 World Cup in Bombay and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics), Tham Kong Onn (donned Malaysia colours at the 1962 Jakarta Asian Games), Tham Yeow Kong (played for Malaysia at the1979 Junior World Cup) Teoh Choo Beng (donned Malaysia colours at the SEA Regional Games in Singapore).
MHS' notable double hockey Olympians - Yang Siow Meng (left)  who played in 1968 Mexico City and 1972 Munich Olympics and Koh Hock Seng who donned  national colours at the 1964 Tokyo and 1968 Mexico City  Games.
MHS’ notable double hockey Olympians - Siow Meng (left) who played in 1968 Mexico City and 1972 Munich Olympics and Hock Seng who donned national colours at the 1964 Tokyo and 1968 Mexico City Games.
P. Poonendarajah, 77, a popular MHS hockey master from 1955 to 1968 and then again from 1972 to 1987, readily testifies that the school ‘production of national playing talents’ like on assembly lines will continue to flow in the years ahead. Coupled with a artificial pitch incorporated in the present day school gamut of in-house sports facilities along with the good news that the establishment’s re-location plan is shelved, hockey has a bright and promising future.
Poonendeajah, who still maintains links with the MHS’ hockey development, coaching and training committee, while also keeping tabs of the school game’s exploits on the domestic and national fronts noted that during the tenure years of three principals — C.T. Wade (1962-1965), K. Anandarajan (1970-1972) and Abdul Rafie Haji Mahat (1985-1991), hockey was treated like a ‘subject’ with regular inter-house and inter class six a side competitions held all year round.
Mister Hockey Poonen, as he is still popularly known in local hockey circles said: “Unlike the other sports and games that adopted a seasonal approach, these regular short game hockey competitions whipped up much interest and participation. All this gave school selectors ample opportunities to pick up talents and potentials to form large Under-15 and Under 18 training squads which made final selection to don school colours difficult.
With hockey playing potentials from our feeder schools so very keen to don MHS colours while moving into the secondary levels, trainees faithfully kept up with daily training grinds and with plenty of predecessors who made the state and national grades to emulate, final selections were made tedious chores.
With parents’ support and encouragement aplenty, the school’s regular winning of every other honours connected with the state and national schools sports council and the state hockey associations, spelt a priority for MHS players, all eager to get a nod from national junior and senior selectors.
Donning school hockey colours was an obsession for most of the MHS students. Yes, we did produce notable athletes and other sportsmen who went on to make the national teams at athletics, cricket, fencing, football, archery and even bodybuilding and taekwondo, but hockey has and will always remain the preferred choice, now that Malaysia occupy a commendable world ranking with qualifying for the World Cup and the Olympic Games.
MHS’ notable double hockey Olympians - Siow Meng (left) who played in 1968 Mexico City and 1972 Munich Olympics and Hock Seng who donned national colours at the 1964 Tokyo and 1968 Mexico City Games.
Q
Poonendeajah, who still maintains links with the MHS’ hockey development, coaching and training committee, while also keeping tabs of the school game’s exploits on the domestic and national fronts noted that during the tenure years of three principals — C.T. Wade (1962-1965), K. Anandarajan (1970-1972) and Abdul Rafie Haji Mahat (1985-1991), hockey was treated like a ‘subject’ with regular inter-house and inter class six a side competitions held all year round.
Mister Hockey Poonen, as he is still popularly known in local hockey circles said: “Unlike the other sports and games that adopted a seasonal approach, these regular short game hockey competitions whipped up much interest and participation. All this gave school selectors ample opportunities to pick up talents and potentials to form large Under-15 and Under 18 training squads which made final selection to don school colours difficult.
With hockey playing potentials from our feeder schools so very keen to don MHS colours while moving into the secondary levels, trainees faithfully kept up with daily training grinds and with plenty of predecessors who made the state and national grades to emulate, final selections were made tedious chores.
With parents’ support and encouragement aplenty, the school’s regular winning of every other honours connected with the state and national schools sports council and the state hockey associations, spelt a priority for MHS players, all eager to get a nod from national junior and senior selectors.
Donning school hockey colours was an obsession for most of the MHS students. Yes, we did produce notable athletes and other sportsmen who went on to make the national teams at athletics, cricket, fencing, football, archery and even bodybuilding and taekwondo, but hockey has and will always remain the preferred choice, now that Malaysia occupy a commendable world ranking with qualifying for the World Cup and the Olympic Games.
M