An Invitation: Malacca High School Class of 77

Sentuhan Kita. Sentuhan Merdeka.
The Organiser is inviting pupils of Malacca High School who studied from 1973 to 1977 and up to Upper 6 in 1979 to their 3^rd old school-mates gathering on 27^th October 2012. On behalf for each and everyone of your long time friend, the Organiser valued your participation and your presence is merry to them. If you are part of the old school-mates, you could follow their updates here.

They sang this song together every Monday.

Sekolah Tinggi Melaka keseluruh negara,

Beramai-ramai kita dukung Rukunegara,

Satupadu bertenaga majukan negara,

Prinsip hidup progresif amalan sekolah kita.

Sejak lapanbelas dua enam namamu terbina,

Sepanjang masa ke muka mulia dan bahagia,

Sekolah Tinggi, Sekolah Tinggi, tempat mu berbakti,

Berpaduan, bercahaya, kekalan abadi.

Education divide not, and nothing divide the educator, one for all and all for one, they stay connected with no explanation, may he or her be a Chinese friend, a Hindu friend or a Malay friend. This simple formula simply provides energy for a bond made by them. They are lucky that they have a Chris, who look beyond the tangibles, and treasure the connection, and here is a poem dedicated by him on the 1^st January 2011 during their 2^nd reunion at the Avillion Legacy. Many old teachers met many old boys and girls. Benny launched the rebonding then. And here it goes, … An old friend …

A warm hand shake

A bond made

In innocence

Through a life

Lived, survived

Enjoyed, trialed

An old friend

A shoe well worn

Cosy and

Comfortable

sure footed steps

tread retread

a path measured

an old friend

shared stories of old

told retold

re-membered

an old friend

and old friendship

surpasses

new encounters

for there belonged

a connection

of old stories

old lives

old smiles

comforting

no excuses

no explanation

just be

an old friend

connected

8^th March 2009 marked their 1^st reunion. William coined that idea. It was held at the Century Mahkota Cafe in a High-Tea setting.

Although they were not there to see its completion, they are glad and proud when Tun Syed Zahiruddin bin Hassan Al-Haj officiated the school hall on the 7^th March, 1981. In 1977, when they were in upper secondary level 5, they were excited with the plan of getting a school hall. As their Editor of the Optimist for 1978 we see NY Lai each day as their friend and and they remember the 1921 Editor was Tan Cheng Lock. They still remember their Principals, their teachers and non-academic staff who keep on walking for their benefits. The non-academic staff are the chief clerks, the office typists, store-keepers, chief worker, the laboratory assistants, the gardeners and others. They became their friends since 1973. They enjoyed their schooling with the Principal of their seasons, Mr Chan and saw the 1^st Principal name engraved on a wooden plaque in the library; Mr. T.H. Moore who served from 1826. Further into the past, the son of the former Sultan Abdullah, Raja Chulan, the Raja di-Hilir of Perak was one of the distinguished pupil of the school. Without choice, the Governor in 1878 declared the Malacca Free School ‘useless educationally’ and Malacca Free School was renamed as Malacca High School. Before that, Malacca Free School was the 1^st English-medium school in the Straits Settlements and with 250 boys, the school was the most important insitution in Melaka. Their school is a place of instruction, theoratical discussion and the acquisition of knowledge. Apart from getting teaching from their parents, teaching was partially transferred to the school. In their quest for knowledge in the school, they acquired loyal friends.