mhs66

MALACCA HIGH SCHOOL estb. 1826

Date and Background of Establishment
On 7th. December 1826, Malacca High School (MHS) was officially established. Her establishment took place just after Malacca was made an English colony on 17th. March 1824 after the Dutch ceded Malacca to the English after the Bencoolen Treaty in 1824. Malacca.

Malacca High School is the oldest government English school in Malaysia.

The establishment of the school was initiated by Mr. Thomas H. Moor who came to Malacca in 1825 on orders by Milne who was one of the educators at the Anglo Chinese College. In his letter dated 4th. January 1825, he stated his wishes to Arundel in London for establishing a school. The establishment of the school was also supported by some influential people including James Humphrey, a ‘Superintendent’ in the London Society’s Mission. With their assistance, Malacca High School was officially established. The background of the establishment of Malacca High School was directly related to the closing of the Dutch-Malay school which was established in January 1819 by Christian missionary during the Dutch reign. The school was closed when Malacca was handed over to the English by the Dutch.

History of Establishing the name of Malacca High School
Malacca High School began with the name ‘Malacca Free School’. On 1st. August 1878, the name of ‘Malacca Free School’ was changed to ‘Malacca High School’ when the government took over the school from the Christian Mission. The Christian Mission had to hand over ‘Malacca Free School’ to the government because of financial and administrative problems.
Malacca High School was open to all races and religious groups and education was free to all students – the reason why it was named ‘Free’. However, Malacca High School was different from Penang Free School (1816) and Singapore Free School (1823) because these two schools only allow free selection of students but collected fees from the students. On the other hand, Malacca High School’s main objectives was to provide free education to students irrespective of their race, religious backgrounds, colour or creed.

Locations of Malacca High School
After the establishment of Malacca High School on 7th. December 1826, the school was located at Personage House – The current Youth Museum of Malacca. In the history of the school, it moved twice i.e. in 1884 and 1931. The move was caused by the achievement of the school in increasing the students’ population in a relatively short period of time.

In 1884, the school shifted to a new building at the former High Court building as the old building was unsuitable for the growing student population. This building was built under the leadership of F.C. Shepberd since 1882 and  but can only accommodate 200 students.

The idea of building Malacca High School at the Kubu field was cancelled when the late Tuan Haji Bachee bin Ahmad offered to sell a plot of land to the authorities on recognition of the importance of building the school for education.

In 1928, the new school premises at Jalan Chan Koon Cheng (the current location) was built at a cost of $170,000.00 which included the cost of land. The new building was equipped with teachers’ house, toilets and sewage system.

The 2 storey school was constructed by an engineer in the form of alphabet ‘E’ which symbolises an English School. In 1934, a few addition was added to the new building. The government spent about $5,000 in constructing the Quarters of the Boarding Master, car parks and an armoury for weapons storage and a cadet room.

Early Students at Malacca High School
Malacca High School began her history with 18 male students. By following the objectives of the school, it was opened to all races in Malacca. It was also opened to all students to all states in Malaya then.
In 1826, Malacca High School admitted girls’ students for the first time. Some 65 girls’ students were registered. However, in 1834, the admission of girls’ students had to be halted when Miss Wallaca who replaced Maria Newell left the school for Canton, China. Since that date, the school did not admit girls because of lack of teaching facilities and the cold reception by girls’ students.

Most of the students originated from Malacca Town and her surrounding areas such as Klebang, Limbongan, Bukit Rambai, Ujong Pasir, Masjid Tanah, Alor Gajah and other districts. Since 1826 until the 2nd. World War, students’ intake seldom reach 500 students except in 1907 when the students’ population reached 505 students. After the war, the school expanded. Today, Malacca High School has a student enrolment of 2000 students.

Motto
“MELIORA HIC SEQUAMUR” is the motto of Malacca High School – the oldest government school in Malaysia. The motto is in Latin and means ‘Here We Strive For Better Things’ in English.

The motto was introduced by the Principal of Malacc High School Mr. L.W. Arnold. He was stationed in the school from 1931 to 1934. The use of the motto coincided with the shifting of the school from the High Court Building to the current location. The official opening of the school was on 22nd. October 1931.

The use of the motto encouraged pupils and teachers to excel in the academic and leadership qualities. In the academic field for example, Malacca High School has produced of  excellent students and leaders in the country. In the field of curriculum, Malacca High School has produced a number of national and states sportsmen/sportswomen.

School Emblem
According to school records, the school emblem was introduced in 1931. During this time the School Board of Governors was established and the motto “Meliora Hic Sequamur” was established. Originally, the school emblem reflected ‘History,’Resilence’ and ‘Strength’.
The ‘A Famosa’ logo was used and the colour of green and maroon were used. At the bottom of the logo, ‘ Meliora Hic Sequamur ‘ was etched. At the beginning, this logo was used by the school prefects only but in 1970, all students must wear the logo and has become a rule of the school.

www.malaccahigh.net
Copyright MMXII

26 Nov 09 : 8.00AM

By Ding Jo-Ann
dingjoann at thenutgraph dot com

DATUK Karam Chand Vohrah, better known as KC Vohrah, almost didn't study law.

"I was supposed to have been a medical student," the respected former Court of Appeal judge says. "I won an award to study medicine in India but when I arrived there, I was rejected because I had problems with one eye. They said I wouldn't be able to use the microscope and things like that. So I came back to Malaya and applied for law."

KC Vohrah with his wife, Beatrix Vohrah

Vohrah was eventually accepted to read law in Singapore. As it turns out, he also met his wife, now retired law professor Datin Beatrix Vohrah, at university. The retired judge is well known for his independence and fairness during his time on the bench.

In 2002, Vohrah was appointed Suhakam (Human Rights Commission of Malaysia) commissioner, a position he held for six years. As commissioner, he chaired a Suhakam inquiry into a May 2006 demonstration at KLCC which concluded that the police used excessive force on the demonstrators. The inquiry also recommended that peaceful assemblies be decriminalised and that the police cooperate with peaceful protesters instead of intimidating them.

Vohrah is currently a consultant with a legal firm and also hears arbitration cases. He spoke to The Nut Graph on 13 Nov 2009 at his home in Petaling Jaya.

TNG: Where were you born?

KC Vohrah: I was born in Malacca, 1937. I was the second child. LC (Lal Chand), the eldest, was born three years before me and AC (Amar Chand), the youngest, three years after.

Where did you grow up?

Malacca High School prefects — Vohrah seated in the front row, 2nd from left
(pic courtesy of Vohrah)

I grew up in Malacca. I was in Bandar Hilir English School, it was near the sea and just beside it was the convent. After that, I went to Malacca High School.

They were really good days. It was so multi-racial. We had the unique Chitties, Babas and Nyonas, Eurasians, Malays, Indians and Chinese. We grew up in a beautiful mix of cultures, unaware that we were different. We were aware of the different racial groups we came from but not aware of any differences as human beings.

Where were your parents and grandparents from?

Vohrah's family portrait (pic courtesy of KC Vohrah)

My grandfather on my father's side was from Punjab. He had a little cloth shop in Kuala Lumpur where my father was born. Then [my grandfather] moved to Singapore. He used to go to Johor to sell cloth and other commodities and he visited this little town on the left bank of the river Sedili. That's where my mother's father had a sundry shop. My father used to follow his father and that's how he met my mother.

My mother's father had come from China as the Sultan of Johor at that time wanted the Teo Chews to [take care of] Johor's harbours and gambier estates. They were from Chaozhou — formerly known as Swatow.

Tell us a bit about your parents.

My father was very single-minded in whatever he did, and adventurous. After he finished school, he became a sailor. When my mother's parents died, he decided he [had to] marry my mother.

Vohrah with his friend Tan Wang Seng at Malacca Hospital
(pic courtesy of KC Vohrah)

So he took a job as a dresser, known now as medical assistant, and married her in 1933. He was transferred to Malacca Hospital. It was an iconic building in those days — four blocks, probably the tallest buildings in this part of the world. He was also an amateur boxer and he was called Battling Leonard.

My mother and her two sisters were born in Kuala Sedili. She imbibed a lot of Malay culture there. Her dress was baju and sarong. Later in Malacca, she also wore sarong kebaya because of the Babas and Nyonyas; our food was mostly Nyonya. We spoke to her in Malay and to my dad in English. We also understand Teo Chew because my mother would speak to her two sisters in Teo Chew.

What are your strongest memories of the place in which you grew up?

Some of my most beautiful memories would be of my schooldays.

My good friend Tan Zing Chee and I would cycle together to Mata Kucing, where we would pick up Samad Yahya. We would go to school together, look at girls together and go to the library together after school. We had a beautiful friendship. Zing Chee migrated to Auckland and became a Professor of Physics. Datuk Samad Yahya is a retired lawyer and banker.

[In school, there] was no issue of being treated differently because we were of different races. We were punished because we didn't do our work or we were rewarded because we did good work.

In the hospital quarters where I lived, we children were always in and out of each other's houses. Everybody's parents were our "uncles" or "aunties". They would pamper us with food and shower us with real affection. My aunt's friend visited my house very often; she was like a family member. We called her "Ta chi Ah Eng" (elder sister Ah Eng).

Vohrah with friends Chan Chee Siok, Dayanathan, Woo Lok Wah and brother
Amar Chand (pic courtesy of KC Vohrah)

We visited the Carvahlos and Theseiras during Christmas; Chinese New Year was at the Angs, the Seng Hangs and our home. For Diwali, we were at the Selladurais, the Nadarajahs and our home. For Hari Raya Aidilfitri, it was the Samdins, the Abdullahs and others. There was no issue of "He cannot come here" or "You cannot go there."

What are the stories you hold onto the most?

My father was a Punjabi Hindu, but he was so open minded he defied tradition and married my mother, a Taoist and Buddhist Chinese.

Vohrah's parents celebrating their 25th
wedding anniversary (pic courtesy of
KC Vohrah)

He had two best friends Tan Huah Qwee and Tan Kim Joo in ACS Singapore. They swore everlasting friendship by nicking their wrists and mingling their blood with each others. They became "kek pai"- blood brothers. They were good friends till the end but Kim Joo was killed by the Japanese during the war. Till today we have ties with Huah Qwee's family as if they are our blood relatives.

My father was a disciplinarian. His sense of ethics was very strong. His credo was: The only thing that he could give us was education and the rest was our hard work. He said he and my mother would do their best to give us everything they possibly could. But he said he didn't expect anything in return except that we give the same thing to our children so that our children would be better than us. I'll always remember that and we brothers have adopted that commitment.

How have these stories influenced you as a Malaysian?

I've been lucky in a sense. My elder brother and I, we were in the judiciary. The greater part of my life after university, and a little of private practice was in the Judicial and Legal Services and after that in the High Court and Court of Appeal. I think because we were at a stage where racism had not shown its ugly head, things went on very smoothly. Even in later days, because we were among professionals trained in the law, things were not bad. We had friends across the board and didn't feel different from the other officers.

I did not encounter serious issues on race or religion as some of my friends both in the public and private sector did. There were already signs of racial polarisation in the early 1980s in the public sector, perhaps partly because of the quota system and partly because of the polarising effect of the school system.

As for my family, I was fortunate that my children were in schools which were truly multiracial. But one day my son came back from school feeling very upset and dejected. He was almost in tears when he said that a friend of his who was very good in his studies could not go to Form Six while another with lesser results got a scholarship for pre-university. His words, "We are Malaysian! Why so unfair?", cut really deeply into our hearts. 

Vohrah and Beatrix on their wedding day (pic courtesy of KC Vohrah)

Another matter that affected us deeply as parents was our children's education. Like many parents, we were not sure whether our children would get into local universities however good their results, let alone be allowed to do courses of their choice. Like most parents, we prepared by tightening our belts and eventually, sent [our] children overseas [to] university. Sometimes when my wife and I think about it, we feel so guilty that we gave so little pocket money to our children to manage their personal expenses. I am sure many parents feel the same way, too.

Describe the kind of Malaysia you would like for yourself and future generations.

I would like to see a dismantling of the barriers that divide us, barriers that were wittingly or unwittingly put up in the last 20 to 30 years where race and religion appear to be emphasised and where dysfunctional institutions perpetuate those barriers. It is important that we Malaysians accommodate the culture, religion and racial differences of other Malaysians.

I would also like to see more loosening of democratic spaces where legitimate public dissent is allowed, as in every democratic society. I would like a nation committed to the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights which speaks of the inherent dignity of all human beings and their equal and inalienable rights. These rights should be for all Malaysians without regard to race, religion or gender.

I hope the fundamental liberties in the constitution on equality, rights of education and property and freedom of movement, speech, assembly and association, will be respected by the executive. I also hope that the courts will courageously enforce these rights.

There must be political will to effect changes. We have to throw away our mindset...We must instead rejoice in the oneness of the nation because of our unique diversity.

Do you think we will ever be able to regain the cultural intermingling that you had when you were growing up in Malacca?

It will take time but I think it is possible.

Read other Found in Malaysia interviews

siew eng Posted: 26 Nov 09 : 10.00AM

Love the story of how the retired judge's parents met. I can just imagine an epic love-story movie out of that, rivalling anything from Hollywood. What a character for a protagonist! And set him against that period of colonialism (what was it like - the beginning of the end? Or the peak? Never picked up reading the various accounts of history of Malaya after barely passing Sejarah in secondary school).

Back to earth, amid so much cynicism over the state of affairs in Malaysia, I'd like to thank the Nut Graph for reminding us that we have a few good people among the many goons who get undeserved space in the mainstream media and pollute our environment.

Viknesh Asogan Posted: 26 Nov 09 : 10.42AM

A fantastic person! Thank you for having my dad work for you in Malacca. A big thank you also for giving oppourtunity to him to futher his studies, even though he sadly didn't take that offer.

vincenzo Posted: 26 Nov 09 : 11.18AM

Dear Jo-Ann & Nutgraph,

I will try to keep this as short as possible.

Thank you for reminding me of the past through this series of 'Found in Malaysia' interviews. Though I would like to share something as the said sentence struck a cord with me: "We visited the Carvahlos and Theseiras during Christmas; Chinese New Year was at the Angs, the Seng Hangs and our home."

I am a half Theseira by blood from Malacca, from Bandar Yler (now Hilir), and more accurately from Kampung Tengah. There is a road called Praya Lane that leads to my grandparents' and granduncles' and aunts' houses. "Praya" means "beach" in Portuguese.

There is a beautiful church at the end of the road that faced the sea. Sadly, a huge BN land reclamation project in the 1980s stole the beauty of this place and reduced the village to nothing more than “kampung houses”, as termed by the new residents and shop owners. This was because they (outsiders to Bandar Hilir) were ignorant of its history and only looked at the state of the old houses.

Slowly but surely, the development brought pollution and crime to the area, which resulted in many of these historic settlers being forced to leave their homes for safer and less congested areas. My late grandfather and his kin fought tooth and nail to keep their land and of course the beautiful coast, but due to the lack of development and infrastructure within the village, were eventually forced to sell the land.

Today, the place is almost deserted. Twenty years on and Bandar Mahkota is nothing great. A quasi-white elephant of a project to say the very least. I used to harbour a lot of anger at the loss of having a seafront house which would have seen an exodus to the village by all relatives to celebrate Christmas each year.

Today, almost every single one of my relatives (approximately 100 or more of this Luso-Malay clan) are now happily plying their trade and spreading their culture (love for music, dance, arts and food) in Australia, UK, New Zealand, and even Singapore. Everything happens for a reason, and this loss was actually a blessing in disguise as we look back today to find Malaysia losing most of its secularism and will most likely end up as an extremist state!

Moral of what I am saying is that the wind has changed. There is a better world waiting for us out there, and we should never be tied down to the scraps that this government feeds us. For the record, my grandfather and his siblings fought for this country during World War II and survived. But we could not survive the onslaught of this government’s 1racial and 1religion agenda.

the leech Posted: 26 Nov 09 : 6.40PM

Our education system is definitely one of the factors. Too much politics are involved and it's not healthy. However, I do believe there's a hope for positive changes. It might take some time but not too long please...