SMK Tinggi Melaka
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"Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Tinggi Melaka", still commonly known by its old name of Malacca High School, was established on 7th December 1826 and is the oldest school in Malacca. Malacca High School is located at Bandar Hilir, Melaka.
[edit] History
The school's establishment was initiated by Mr. Thomas H. Moor, who came to Malacca in 1825 under the invitation of Milne to teach in the Anglo - Chinese College. In his letter dated 4th January 1825, he had expressed his wish to Arundel in London to set up a school. His ideas had brought many accolades from many influential figures, including James Humphrey, a Supritendant in the London Society's Mission. With their help, Malacca High School was officially established. The school's early background was in line with the closure of a Dutch - Malay School that was established in January 1819 by Christian missionaries during the Dutch rule. The school had to be closed when the Dutch ceded Malacca to the British in accordance to the Anglo - Dutch Treaty in 1824.
[edit] The Formation of Malacca High School's Name
Malacca High School started with the name "Malacca Free School" in 1878 when the government took over the school's administration from the Christian missionaries. The missionaries had to surrender the school to the government because of financial and administration problems.
The school was not only opened to all, regardless of race and religion, but also provided free education to its students. Therefore, it was named "Free". This is different from Penang Free School (1816) and Singapore Free School (1823) that were established in the same period with Malacca High School, in which both schools were "free" in terms of student intake only, but charged fees to them. Moreover, it is Malacca High School's vision to provide free education to its students, regardless of race, religion and culture.
[edit] Locations Of Malacca High School
During its establishment on the 7th December 1826, the school was located in the Parsonage House, where the Malacca Youth Museum now stands. The school had two transfers of locations, both in 1884 and 1931. The transfer was caused by the progress made by the school in terms of student population, although in a small amount.
In 1884, the school was transferred to a new building, the former High Court because the former building was not suitable anymore. The building was built on the recommendation of F.C. Shepherd since 1882. This new building could accommodate 200 students only. The plan to build the school on Kubu Field, where the Kubu Stadium stands now, was rejected when Allahyarham Tuan Haji Bachee bin Ahmad Ali had agreed to sell his land to the government because of the awareness of the importance of the building of the school in the name of education.
In 1928, the new building in Jalan Chan Koon Cheng was built with the cost of $ 170,000, excluding the price of the land. This building came with teacher's quarters, toilets and drainage system. This two - storey, half stone, half wooden building was designed by an English engineer with the shape of an "E". There was a possibility that this intriguing shape of the school building represented an English school.
In 1934, several additions had been made on this new building. The government had spent $ 5000 on building quarters for Boarding Master, parking bays and an armoury for storage of weapons, band store and cadet's room.
During the Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945, the school was closed and it was used as the headquarters for the Japanese Militiary Police, or Kempetai. The school was interred in Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Bandar Hilir, formerly Bandar Hilir English School, in 1945 - 1946, after the Japanese surrendered to repair the damages done by the Japanese during its occupation.
[edit] Early Students of Malacca High School
Malacca High School started its session with only 18 male students. According to its vision, the school was opened to all students in Malacca, regardless of race, religion and culture. The school was also opened to all students from all over Malaya at that time.
In 1826, the school had once opened its doors to female students. There were 65 female students who enrolled in the school at that time. However, in 1834, the female student's section was stopped because of the departure of Miss Wallace, who replaced Miss Maria Newell to Canton, China. Since that year onwards, the school did not allow any female students to enrol anymore. This is because of the lack of teaching equipments and the female students' poor reception.
The early students of Malacca High School mostly hailed from the vicinity of Bandar Hilir and beyond, including Klebang, Limbongan, Bukit Rambai, Ujong Pasir, Masjid Tanah, Alor Gajah and many more. Since 1826 until 1945, the student's population had never exceeded 500 students, except in 1907, when there were 505 students. After 1945, the school had grown rapidly and today, it has 2000 students.
[edit] The Hostels
The hostels of Malacca High School was built in 1924 and the principal was Mr. C.G. Coleman. The hostels could only accommodate 60 students only. In 1972, the Ministry of Education had introduced the Student's Special Programme (Pelajar Rancangan Khas). Students in Malacca that achieved good results in the Standard Five Evaluation Test (Penilaian Darjah Lima) were placed in Malacca High School. There were 80 students who were placed in this programme.
In 1975, the school's old hostels were demolished to make way for the building of the school's hall. The new hostels were built at the back of the school compound and it was named Special Programme Hostels (Asrama Rancangan Khas). The hostel's population was 118 students at that time. Another new additional hostel building was built in 1983. The students who enrolled in the hostels at that time numbered 300 students. The facilities of the hostels include the mosque, rest room, clinic, air - conditioned library, AV room and were decortated with a man - made waterfall and a fish pool.
The hostels were named Malacca High School Boys' Hostels (Asrama Putera Sekolah Tinggi Melaka) in 1985 and was named Tan Sri Datuk Wira Abdul Rahman Arshad Hostels, after the former Director - General of Education, who was the school's former student from 1948 until 1956.
[edit] The School Field
For the sake of development of sports, especially athletics, and tremendous supports from both students and teachers, the school had decided to expand the school field to be used during Physical Education lessons. From 1975 until 1979, the school field expansion project was undertaken by the Public Works Department (Jabatan Kerja Raya) to an area covering about 5 acres. This expansion has made this school field the largest school field in Malacca until today. Currently, it has 2 football and rugby fields, running track, an indoor hockey turf, a basketball court and a tennis court.
[edit] The School Hall
In 1974, the school hall project was approved by the Ministry of Education, but with a budget of RM 150 000 only. It was cancelled then the school authorities appealed for extra budget because the school needed a larger hall to accommodate the increasing amount of students.
With the initiative taken by the school's Board of Governors, teachers and the Parents - Teachers Association (PTA), the school had organized a "Walkathon" on the 25th September 1977 to get donations from the public. From the donations incurred from the event, the PTA, Board of Governors as well as Malacca High School Old Boys' Association (MAHSOBA), had launched the Malacca High School Hall Bulding Fund. From the efforts from various walks of life, the school hall was built and it was completed and launched by the former Governor of Malacca, Tun Syed Zahiruddin bin Syed Hassan al - Haj on 7th March 1981. The hall currently has 4 badminton courts.
[edit] The Mosque
The school mosque project was initiated in 1982, after the completion of the school hall. The former PTA chairman, Datuk Idris Abdul Ghani, with the help of other committee members, Muslim parents, teachers and students, as well as the public had contributed towards the mosque project, totalling RM 74 000. With the addition of RM 10 000 from the School Development Fund, the mosque was completed in October 1984 and used by Muslim students for worship as well as religious activities.
[edit] Later Development
Other projects that were done to develop the school were done from time to time. These projects include the renovation of the Drawing Room into Professional Room (1988), the building of the Wawasan and Budi block, the school gateway arch (1995), the renovation of a part of the library into Staff Room B (1998), the building of the Pintar block (2000), the additional building on the canteen, the podium (Astaka) at the school field, the repair works on the west wing on the Warisan block that was damaged in a fire in June 2000, as well as the new, two - storey computer lab on the former volleyball and basketball court.
[edit] School Motto
1. MELIORA HIQ SEQUAMUR
This motto stands for "Here we strive for better things". This motto was introduced by Mr. L.W. Arnold in 1931, during the school's transfer to the current loaction.
2.SINI TERDIDIKNYA MANUSIA (HERE IS WHERE HUMANS ARE MADE)
This motto was introduced in line with the government's efforts to promote the usage of Bahasa Malaysia among the people by the former principal, Tuan Haji Abdul Rafie bin Mahat in 1989.
3. WE ARE THE BEST
This motto was introduced by a former principal, Tuan Haji Mohammad bin Ismail in 1991.
4. MESRA, HORMAT, SAYANG (HAPPY, RESPECT AND LOVE)
This motto was introduced by a former principal, Tuan Haji Noh bin Haji Ahmad in 2001.
[edit] School Principals
1826 - Mr. T.H. Moor
1843 - Mr. John Overee
1862 - Mr. T. Smith
1878 - Mr. A. Armstrong
1893 - Mr. J. Howell
1916 - Mr. C.F.C. Ayre
1921 - Mr. C. Beamish
1924 - Mr. C.G. Coleman
1930 - Mr. T.A.O. Sullivan
1931 - Mr. L.W. Arnold
1934 - Mr. L.A.S. Jermyn
1941 - Mr. C.A. Scott, Mr. Lee Chin Lin
1945 - Mr. Goh Tiow Chong
1946 - Mr. C. Foster, Mr. C.J. Gurney
1950 - Mr. G.P. Dartford
1952 - Mr. F.T. Laidlaw, Mr. E.H. Bromley
1956 - Mr. A. Atkinson
1957 - Mr. W. Gibson
1958 - Mr. K. Kandiah, Mr. Ee Tiang Hong
1960 - Mr. C.T. Wade, Mr. Goh Keat Seng
1965 - Mr. Tan Teik Hock
1969 - Mr. Lim Leng Lee
1970 - Mr. K. Anandarajan
1972 - Mr. Chan Ying Tat
1985 - Tn. Haji Abdul Rafie bin Haji Mahat
1991 - Tn. Haji Mohammad bin Ismail
1994 - Tn. Haji Hussin bin Abdul Hamid
1996 - En. Mohd Zin bin Abdul Hamid
1998 - Tn. Haji Othman bin Ibrahim
2000 - Tn. Haji Noh bin Haji Ahmad
2001 - Tn. Haji Ya'amah bin Mohd Dris
2003 - En. Mohd Ali bin Saed
2006 - En. Yusop bin Haji Ahmad
- Tn. Haji Abd. Razak bin Che Ngah (1 November 2006)
[edit] School Song
Sekolah Tinggi Melaka keseluruh negara
Beramai-ramai kita dukung rukun negara
Satu padu bertenaga majukan negara
Prinsip hidup progresif amalan sekolah kita
Sejak lapan belas tua enam namamu terbina
Sepanjang masa kemuka mulia dan bahagia
Sekolah Tinggi, Sekolah Tinggi, Tempatmu berbakti
Perpaduan, bercahaya, kekalan abadi.
A highly literal translation would be:
Malacca High School all over the country
All together we uphold the country's principle
Unite with strength advance country
Progressive living principles our school endorses
Since 1826 your name was established
During entire existence noble and happy
High School, High School, your Place is contributing
Unity, radiant, enduring endurance.
Note from the translator: I am fully aware it sounds odd, but I this is, after all, a literal translation. Please excuse the grammar construction in the translation above, Bahasa Malayu has a rather different way of constructing sentences and phrases.
Additional Note: This song's melody is sung exactly like "America the Beautiful".
Sekolah Tinggi Melaka keseluruh negara
Beramai-ramai kita dukung rukun negara
Satu padu bertenaga majukan negara
Prinsip hidup progresif amalan sekolah kita
in rhyme with
Oh beautiful, for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
[edit] MHS Music Club
Currently, the teacher-advisors to this club are Mr Barnitus Loo Yu Meng and Madam Chin Wei Ling. They are both skilled with pianos and keyboards. However, they teach mainly musical theory and the caklempong instruments (Malay instruments). It is currently speculated that Mr Barnitus Loo was a violinist as well, after he restored the school's ancient violins.
The current acting president is Seo Yiie Huern (4 Sports Sciences), and the vice-president is Tan Joon Liang (4 Sports Sciences).
The school has a disappoining number of violinists in its Music Club. Current up-to-date information shows 3 violinists, but among them is an inactive member.
However, the number of pianists are good. The increase of well-trained pianists is highly likely an indirect benefit of the school's recent policy on barring students with fewer than 4 A's in their UPSR exam to enroll in Malacca High School.
As of late, the school has been trying to revive its School Band. Hopes are high as the many students have enrolled in the school band. Furthermore, the teacher who trains the band is the same teacher who trained the St Francis Institution's (SFI) band.
Also, the school possesses a grand piano in the school's hall. Its "soft pedal", however, is currently broken and in need of repair.
[edit] MHS Christian Fellowship
This club was formed for Christian students, regardless of allegation to different factions of Christianity. As of 2006, the teacher-advisors are Ms Priscilla Chok And Madam Lwi Kim Kam. The current president of this club is Ms Lim Tse Hwei and the vice-president, Marcus Chee (A son of the teacher-advisor Madam Lwi).
[edit] Twins
The amount of twins in this school is unusually high. The known pair of twins to date are : Bryan and Nicholas Kek, Desmond and Daniel Cheong, Tong Mun Kit (currently in Singapore with a scholarship) and Tong Mun Hoe, the Chin Brothers and a pair of unknown girls (currently in the sixth form).
[edit] External links
There are other twins, especially for the class of 1995, there are two pairs, Suhaimi and Suhaizan; Mevin and Kevin Krisnan.
