St Xavier’s Institution Heritage Centre: labour of love realised
The nation’s second-oldest school unveiled a heritage gallery to reflect its cultural and historical diversity
DURING the recent 15th general election period, a labour of love in Penang almost went unnoticed.
But it was still a historic occasion nonetheless. A school went out of its way to remind its students and alumni of how the simple act of wanting to provide education to the poor, has gone on to touch the lives of thousands of Malaysians over a century-long.
Decades after the idea was first conceived, the nation’s second oldest school unveiled a heritage gallery to reflect the culture and historical diversity of this grand institution called St Xavier’s Institution.
It is an important milestone to illustrate that youths from various races can unite under one classroom – just to seek knowledge and skills to prepare for adulthood.
St Xavier is often revered as one of the preferred secondary schools in Penang because of its rich history and the quality of education it provides.
Thus, it is not surprising that among its alumni are hundreds of towering individuals in society, both locally, nationally and aboard.
Ahmad Fuzi (centre) watering a tree sapling. Looking on are the SXI Heritage Gallery committee. – ABDUL RAZAK LATIF/The Vibes pic
Most importantly in the mind of the school board chairperson Victor Tan, was that such elite students came from all walks of life, races and religion – the right ingredients to make it an awesome school.
“When you rattle off famous Xavierian names, it is often a Malay, Indian, Chinese or Eurasian or Siamese, Burmese and even Caucasian which go with it. In five minutes.”
So, the school, where the likes of former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin strolled through with former Penang chief minister Tan Sri Wong Pow Nee to former DAP chairman Karpal Singh; a heritage gallery is worth the wait and the support.
The Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak graced the official opening of the gallery, and he was left impressed until he personally donated to the upkeep of the heritage section, which is located on the ground floor of the sprawling school.
An old boy of Bukit Mertajam High School over on the mainland, Ahmad Fuzi was accompanied by Tan, the La Sallian Brother-Director Brother Jason Blaikie, alumnus Datuk Dr Ooi Kee Beng and the heritage sub-committee chairperson Ooi Gim Ewe.
A beaming state education director Abdul Rashid Abdul Samad hopes that all other schools can replicate what St Xavier had done, if they have not done so.
Tan acknowledged that although it was a labour of love and the board rushed to complete it in conjunction with the school’s grand 170th-anniversary celebrations next month, the task at hand is securing funds to sustain the operations of the gallery.
By its own unique pull, the gallery itself has the makings of a tourism product, as Xavierians have gone on to make a name for themselves globally.
“Whenever they come back, they can visit it. It is a form of tourism,” said Khoo Boo Lim, an alumnus and the Malaysian Association of Hotels’ vice-president.
Ahmad Fuzi presenting a personal contribution to Blaike. Looking on are Abdul Rashid (centre) and alumnus Datuk Kenny Ong (left). – ABDUL RAZAK LATIF/The Vibes pic
The gallery has highlights from many panels from different eras. This included a time capsule that was buried under the school’s foundation stone in 1952.
There was also an 1888 SXI donors’ plaque, a pair of century-old stone lions and three travel chests believed to have been brought by the first three Lasallian Brothers in 1852.
There was also a mock-up of a 1960s-style classroom while artefacts like the menacing cane and duster used to discipline students were also incorporated.
Tan said that the cost was RM600,000 and it was raised through generous Xavierian donors.
Hundreds of them came forward to help their alma mater.
Kickstarting the drive was alumnus Datuk Robert Wong, who is a renowned corporate leader in Kuala Lumpur.
Other notable donors were the Old Xavierians Association, Xaverian Club Kuala Lumpur and the Penang Chief Minister’s office.
Ahmad Fuzi also autographed a coffee table book authored by Kee Beng, who is the chief executive officer of the state think tank, the Penang Institute.
Recalling their experiences in getting the gallery ready, Tan said that during the movement control order in 2020, Blaikie roamed through the artefacts and found annual school magazines dating to 1947.
Blaikie and Ahmad Fuzi during the launch of the centre. – ABDUL RAZAK LATIF/The Vibes pic
He also located some 35,000 graduating certificates and personal diaries of the brother-directors, who were then principals from 1852.
Incidentally, that was the year the school was founded.
The original building was rebuilt from scratch after a section of it was bombed out by the Japanese during the World War II conflict.
Another alumnus is Pahlawan Negara Datuk Paul Kiong, who earned the nation’s top gallantry award for his exploits in defeating communism.
Kiong would cast a spell on those willing to listen about how the country’s Special Branch and military defeated the communists back then.
“We learn how to blend in with the communists and some of us were highly regarded by them despite that eventually they knew who we were.”
School headmaster Goh Hong Peng can only speak with pride that he was posted to serve this special school, saying that the present batch of students has many examples to look up to in terms of the school’s call of ‘Labor Omnia Vincit’.
The Vibes’ executive editor Himanshu Bhatt was also featured for his contributions to the world of the performing arts and in journalism.
Visits to the gallery are now only on an appointment basis and alumni can contact the school to seek permission to come over.
source – The Vibes
