The Past :: The Present :: The Future
Journey Back To The Past
Ninety years have come and gone. From the turn of the century now drawing to a close, the Malay College has experienced its share or trials and tribulations. It has received glittering accolades for its innumerable achievements. The names of illustrious individuals schooled at the College read like Who's Who list - Sultans, Regents, Menteri Besar, State Secretaries, District Officers, Lieutenants, renowned businessmen and entrepreneurs... the list goes on.
Throughout the years, the College has played a vital role in moulding our history. It has provided knowledge and understanding to many young scholars who went and become leaders in our growing motherland. Encouraging wisdom and forward thinking. Creating a new era in the transformation of British Malaya into modern Malaysia as we are today.
In the Beginning
2nd January, 1905. Then called the Malay Residential School, the College had uneventful birth. However, it was initiated with visionary foresight, one that could produce "... a vigorous and intelligent race of young men who will be in touch with modern progress but not out of touch with old traditions..." Such were the words of RJ Wilkinson, then Inspector of Schools of the Federated Malay States in 1903, whose efforts paved the College's birth. The first residential school in Malaya, its syllabus would contain the essence of modern education with knowledge of Islam and Malay culture.
The early years were not easy. Imagine reciting grammar verses in an attap classroom, boarding within the same house as the Headmaster and for some, sharing accommodation in former railway quarters! Such was the humble setting 90 years ago. The attap structure of the school was supported by jungle rollers, the partitions of the room were rough unshaven plank, bare and unpainted, and there was no ceiling to hide the roof. The rooms were bare, ill-equipped and sparsely furnished. There was no playing field and the neighborhood was austere. It however proved a challenge for the boys, many of whom came from homes of luxury and comfort.
Mr. W Hargreaves, the first Headmaster of the school, was a man of outstanding merit. His energy and enthusiasm not only saw the school through its probationary period of three years but sustained him as Headmaster of another 13 years. Together with his pioneer staff, Mr. FA Vanrennan (who stayed for only a short while) and Mr. RCW Rowlands, who stayed until 1926 , they provided love, courage and all the inspiration that made up for the material deficiencies. Then the Yam Tuan of Negeri Sembilan who came by for a visit during the first year was so impressed by the fellowship and the amount of knowledge demonstrated by the boys that he sanctioned a permanent building for the school.
Four years came and went. And the new building was ready. In conjunction with the opening of the new premises in 1909, the school was renamed the Malay College. It also marked a new phase of education for the College - a new Preparatory School, the Sekolah Kechil, was opened. The ensuing years were uneventful save for progressive improvements that continued to take place year after year. These were the periods of transition that came after Hargreaves' retirement, with a series of Headmasters who succeeded him for short terms until Mr. C Bazell took over in 1923 and continued until 1938.The College was already recognized as a cornerstone in the structure of early Malay education. By then, the number of students had increased from 84 in 1909 to 155 boys at the start of the 1939 term.
In the words of an Old Boy, Raja Kamaruzzaman bin Raja Mansur, " Those were glorious and unforgettable days in College when we learned hard and played hard, inspired by the great teachers who gave us, among many other things, all that was best of the traditions of an English education. Opportunities come to us at some time or another in our lifetime. We should not miss them. My own chance came when I was picked to go to the College, as it were by accident, by Mr. J Phillips, the then Inspector of Schools, Perak, during his visit to one remote little Malay Schools in Tanjong Malim where was receiving my early education."
One important event to date was the formation of the Malay College Old Boys Association. An account of gathering this gathering is taken from the "Times of Malaya and Planters Gazette", 1929: "The reason for this change in the otherwise normal (quiet) existence of this pretty town in Perak was the decision which prompted the Old Boys of the Malay College 24 years after its birth, to foregather at their alma mater to discuss the formation of, and bring into being, an Old Boy Association."
During and After War
In 1927, the first College magazine was published. However many years lapsed until the next edition in 1939. The second edition was published in 1940 but with the outbreak of World War II in 1941, Vol. I No. III was not seen till 1947, following the reopening of the College on 31st January 1947. An event to rejoice, for many had feared that the College would fade away after the war, as had happened to many local institutions. That this did not happen was largely due to the untiring zeal of Mr. HR Carey, who previously had been at the College as a Master from 1924 to 1938 and in 1939 became the Headmaster. During the war, he was a POW and returned to England for a short while to regain his health. When he was ready to return to Malaya, Carey was enraged to hear that no plans had been made to revive the College which by then had been turned into a military hospital. Following that, he embarked on a journey back to Malaya to meet up with Sultans and many other Old Boys who would support him in his mission. One day, Carey was fortunate to meet the Major General in charge of North Malaya with whom he negotiated the revival of the College. That Carey would help the Major General organize a polo match very like the ones before the war, in return for which he would get the school premises back. "Move your sick men to Taiping, and get out of the College, and I will organize the polo." Carey remained with the College until 1949 - long enough to see it established in post-war Malaya. Together many other staff members who had been at the College before the war, they were able to restore the more valuable traditions.
Another story, chronicles the time when the building was ransacked by some irresponsible local before the Japanese arrived. Fortunately, not everything of value was lost. Due to a foresight of a College clerk, En. Hashim , who managed to grab the College's trophies, put them in a sack and hide them in his well during the occupation. During this period, the building was used first as a Japanese school before becoming their headquarters where a great deal of injustice was meted out to the people.
Years of Rapid Change.
1947 was eventful for the Malay College. The most significant visit of the year was by the late Dato' Onn Jaafar, President of UMNO and an Old Boy of the College. Stressed Dato' Onn, "The Malay College is the training ground for the Malay race in its march towards self government." UMNO was also responsible for urging an increase in numbers and wider selection of students at the College.
Fiat Sapientia Virtus. Let manliness come through wisdom. Such is the College motto adopted in 1947 and incorporated in the College Crest - a shield quartered with the colors of the Federated Malay States with a kris in the center, surmounted by a tiger's head, the whole was surrounded by a laurel wreath below which was the motto.
An account of how the College celebrated the establishment of the Federation of Malaya is taken from the 1948 magazine. It further records, "We, the Malay College, were not backward in celebrating this honorable day. Every boy was eager to help make the celebration a real success. There was enthusiasm and a spirit of brotherhood and cooperation in every person. On the eve of Federation Day a colorful concert was held the College Hall."
Throughout the years, steps were taken to ensure the best qualified boys entered the College. In order to preserve the national status of the College, each state was allocated a quota each year the number of boys to be selected for entry. The quality of scholars churned out from the fresh-faced school boys who were sauntered into the College.
1956 approached and many awaited with bated breath the result of Tunku Abdul Rahman's mission to London. The year passed and as august 1957 drew near, the College celebrated with great ardour the Merdeka celebrations even thought this was during the school holidays. Everyone, from the Headmaster to the Masters, the students and even the jaga, was very proud that His Majesty Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Al-marhum Tuanku Mohamed became the Malaya's first Yang Dipertuan Agung and that His Highness Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah ibni Al-marhum Sultan Aladdin Sulaiman Shah of Selangor became the Timbalan Yang Dipertuan Agung. Both were Old Boys of the Malay College. At the same time, His Excellency Raja Uda bin Raja Muhammad, was appointed the first Governor of Penang.
Under the new Education Act 1957, the College lost its Federal status and was brought under the administrative purview of the Perak education authorities. This marked the beginning of a new dimension in College life the next 40 years, many changes and variations were seen as the college adjusted to the rapid transformation and evolution within the Education Department.
There have been significant changes in these decades. The rapid increase in the number of students, the gradual streamlining of the College education system and even the manner the classes were conducted. Looking back at the past, nostalgic memories are evoked. The Old Boys of the College will always remember their alma mater in their hearts. May the Malay College always be recognized for its contributions and regain its stature in the hallmark of education envied by many, consistently producing the leaders of tomorrow.
The Past :: The Present :: The Future
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