in MERDEKA mood...

some photos from the past on MERDEKA

MCKK 100 years stamps

The Malay College, Kuala Kangsar (MCKK) is the premier and first fully-residential school in Malaysia. Established on 2nd January 1905, it was originally known as the Malay Residential School of Kuala Kangsar. It was an all Malay boys' school located in the Royal Town of Kuala Kangsar, Perak.

The school was the brainchild of Mr. R. J. Wilkinson, then Inspector of Schools for the Federated Malay States. In a letter to the Resident-General dated 2nd February 1904, he wrote about "establishing at a suitable locality in the FMS a special residential school for the education of Malays of good family and for the training of Malay boys for admission to certain branches of Government Service."

Its formation was enthusiastically supported by the then Ruler of the Federated Malay States, Sultan Idris Murshidul Adzam Shah of Perak, Sultan Alaiddin Sulaiman Shah of Selangor, YAM Tuan Tuanku Muhamad Shah of Negeri Sembilan and Sultan Ahmad Al-Mu'adzam Shah of Pahang.

Since its inception, more than 5,000 boys (and 2 girls) have had the privilege to enter the gates of The MCKK. Though it was initially founded to educate the Malay elites, it changed dramatically as a result of rising Malay nationalism since 1947. Today, selected Malay boys from all walks of life and aged from 12 to 17 from all over Malaysia are educated in the MCKK.

MCKK celebrated its Centennial Anniversary on 26th March 2005. Attended by Royalties, dignitaries, Old Boys and townspeople, The Malay College Kuala Kangsar was fondly referred to as the Eton of the East. It was declared a National Heritage by His Majesty the Yang DiPertuan Agong. His Majesty re-affirmed that the Malay Rulers "....shall remain as Royal Patrons of The Malay College Kuala Kangsar for as long as the sun, the moon and the star move across the Heavens."

The most recognisable, oldest and famous landmark of MCCK is none other than the imposing 2-storey building with pseudo-Greco-Roman architecture fronted by a vast playing field. It is known as the Big School. The official opening of the building took place on Saturday, 11th December 1909 and was officiated by Sultan Idris Murshidul 'Adzam Shah, Sultan of Perak. In 1955, the West and East Wings were added and together they make up what is now called the Big School. The Big School is currently the main hostel for the seniors. The Big School remains as a majestic edifice of The Malay College.

The establishment of MCKK was enthusiastically supported by the then Ruler of the Federated Malay States, Sultan Idris Murshidul Adzam Shah of Perak, Sultan Alaiddin Sulaiman Shah of Selangor, YAM Tuan Tuanku Muhamad Shah of Negeri Sembilan and Sultan Ahmad Al-Mu'adzam Shah of Pahang.As a mark of respect, honour and appreciation to these four Rulers, the four Houses were named after them, namely Idris (White), Sulaiman (Red), Muhamad Shah (Yellow) and Ahmad (Black).

Note COMBO FIRST DAY COVER with Malay College Kuala Kangsar Cancel!

MCKK/MCOBA LOGOs...

nice logos. May MCKK live another 100 years to come so our children and grand children will be there to celebrate it in a more grandeur style.

I took the words below from the writing of an old boy, Raja Petra Kamarudin back in 2003;

Her Majesty the Queen of England once called MCKK “the Eaton of the East” when she visited Malaysia a couple of years ago. It is said His Highness the King of Malaysia then corrected her by calling Eaton “the MCKK of the West”. This, of course, cannot be confirmed but ask any “Old Boy” -- what an ex-Collegian is called though, let me assure you, none of these Old Boys act old -- and they would all agree that Eaton is what it is because they copied the traditions of MCKK.

The Battle of Britain was won on the playing fields of Eaton, they say. Well, Malaya’s independence was won on the playing fields of MCKK. As much as Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and UMNO try very hard to give the impression that Malaya’s independence was won due to UMNO’s struggle, what the history books fail to mention is that many of those “independence fighters” were products of MCKK. Granted it was a “peoples’ struggle”, but the rakyat, to quote Dr Mahathir, are like a herd. They just follow the leader, and it needed a leader to lead them to independence. And MCKK provided these leaders of independence.

I cannot resist mentioning that many of these early independence fighters like Sir Dato Onn bin Jaffar (Hussein Onn’s father), Dato Abdul Wahab (Dato Panglima Bukit Gantang and one time Menteri Besar of Perak), Dato Laksmana Razali, Tun Aziz bin Abdul Majid (one time Governor of Melaka), Dato Haji Kamaruddin bin Haji Idris (Dato Suhaimi’s father), Tun Abdul Razak (Dato Seri Najib’s father), Raja Sir Tun Uda (my grandfather), Dato Bahaman, Dato Andika Indera, and so on, were mostly old boys of the MCKK.

MCKK had become the seat of Malay nationalism. This was probably the biggest blunder the British ever made in Malaya. If R. J. Wilkinson was still around today, he would probably say, “Give the Malays education, old chap, and they start having VISIONS!”

Another Car from China?

Here is another China make car err SUV that will enter Malaysia soon.

"JOHOR BAHARU, July 26 (Bernama) -- Syarikat LM Resources will set up a vehicle
assembly plant costing RM178 million at a 200-acre site in Bandar Penawar, Kota Tinggi.It will be the biggest vehicle assembly plant in Johor when operational from January 2007. The plant will assemble three models of vehicles from DADI Automobile Industry Ltd of China for the Malaysian market as well as those in Southeast Asia, West Asia, Europe and Africa.The three DADI models to be assembled initially at the plant are two sport utility vehicles called Shuttle and Tourer and a pick-up truck called Trekker."

Source Bernama http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news_lite.php?id=147069