Free School Guide launched

 I commend my beloved alma mater, Penang Free School, for the launch of the Free School Guide during a special School Assembly this morning. It is with a tinge of irony that I couldn't be present for the launch despite my eager anticipation, due to unforeseen circumstances. However, my co-convenor, Lim Siang Jin, along with Loh Lean Kang, Andrew Lim Tatt Keong (Executive Chairman of Gama Group), Andrew Lim Chong Huat (President of The Old Frees' Association), and Hoe Kek Fei, ensured the event's success. The Guest of Honour at the launch was Mohamad Zawawi bin Ahmad, the North-East District Education Officer, and the Parent-Teacher Association chairman also graced the occasion.

The Free School Guide (FSG) has now been officially integrated into the fabric of Penang Free School, allowing everyone to delve into the school's illustrious history spanning over two centuries. Siang Jin and I devoted almost two years to the development of the FSG, and some months ago, we trained a group of students to become the first batch of FSG Ambassadors. These ambassadors will be responsible for explaining the Free School to visitors and guiding them on how to access the Free School Guide wayfinding system by scanning QR codes.

I must extend my gratitude to my friend and fellow Old Free schoolmate from Hong Kong, Cheah Cheng Hye (Co-Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Value Partners, Hong Kong), for his unwavering faith in our commitment to see this project through to its successful conclusion. He generously sponsored a wide range of collateral materials, including posters, leaflets, buntings, portable display kits, and other information and publicity materials.

The Headmaster, Syed Sultan bin Shaik Oothuman, described today as a momentous occasion. In his address to the Assembly, he stated, "Today, we are launching a one-of-a-kind system that provides easy access, for the first time, to the rich history and traditions of our esteemed institution. This system, known as the Free School Guide, is also referred to as a cyber museum."

Elaborating on the Free School Guide, he explained, "It consists of two parts. The first part is a wayfinder that showcases our history, architectural heritage, traditions, significant figures, and even stories. The second part comprises 10 videos documenting the school's history, from its founding in 1816 to the Bicentenary in 2016. These videos are based on the 352-page book, 'Let the Aisles Proclaim: The First Two Hundred Years of the Penang Free School (1816-2016).'"

He expressed his hope that this initiative would strengthen the school spirit by allowing stakeholders, especially students, to gain a deeper understanding of the school's journey to become what it is today. "I am confident that our school staff, Old Frees, and the education community will also find it valuable and fascinating," he added. "This system will undoubtedly highlight the uniqueness of Penang Free School and disseminate knowledge about it more widely."

The Free School Guide offers numerous advantages. It can be accessed anytime and from anywhere via the Internet. For hard copies like leaflets or posters, one can simply scan the QR code. For soft copies like PDFs, clicking on the headings will take you to the Guide. Furthermore, its high portability allows the FSG to be taken anywhere to introduce the school to others, such as at events and roadshows. Additionally, it is cost-effective to reproduce and has minimal impact on the school's physical structure, eliminating the need for renovations.

"The school did not incur any expenses in building the system," Syed Sultan emphasized to the gathered guests, teachers, and students. "It was constructed and funded entirely by a group of Old Frees." He paid tribute to Siang Jin for his conceptualization and overall efforts in bringing the project to fruition. The Headmaster also acknowledged my role in providing content through the creation of "Let the Aisles Proclaim." I am deeply thankful for this recognition.

Moving forward, the Headmaster highlighted that Siang Jin and I did not want the system to be standalone additions to the school's walls. Instead, we aimed to integrate it into the school's living traditions. "To achieve this, we trained a group of student guides whose mission is to promote the system and the school. A one-day workshop was held in August to train approximately 15 students," he continued. "The school is committed to nurturing and strengthening the system, with Cikgu Nur Zahidah binti Zainol appointed as the advisor. We have also enlisted the support of our Senior Assistant, Mr. Leonard Selva."

In conclusion, Syed Sultan expressed his hope that other schools would follow in Penang Free School's footsteps and make information about their histories and traditions readily available online, thereby enhancing Malaysians' appreciation of the wealth and diversity within our education system.

Footnote: The Free School Guide represents the culmination of a lengthy process that began even before the Penang Free School Bicentenary celebrations in 2016. Its origins can be traced back to the Board of Prefects' 150th-anniversary celebrations the previous year. This led to Lean Kang and Siang Jin devising the PFS Student Leadership Workshop: Developing a Pool of Talent from 2017 onwards, and a decision to produce 10 videos on the history of Penang Free School the following year. These 10 videos were a labor of love by Siang Jin and me, with invaluable support from our classmates from the Class of 1970/72, particularly Jim Lim Teik Wah, who provided the voiceovers for all 10 videos, Quah Chei Jin, who sang the School Rally at the beginning of each video, and Kumaravello Thangiah, who served as our film consultant. The Free School Guide, like all the other projects mentioned here, is our way of giving back to society, and what better way to contribute than to our beloved alma mater, Penang Free School, where our journey began over 50 years ago. Fortis atque Fidelis.

 

Old memories of Penang Road

Who remembers establishments like Cheers Limited, Cheng Lee & Co, Zlin Company, and United Happy Stores along Penang Road? In my story today, I also mentioned the Ho Ping coffee shop at the Penang Road-Kampong Malabar corner, right across the road from the Straits Echo building. There used to be a curry mee stall at the back lane behind this coffee shop, which was only open in the afternoon until late at night. I frequented this place while working night shifts at the newspaper company. The back lane was where the nightsoil collectors used to roam during the day to collect the bins from the shophouses' toilets. If you can imagine the hygiene or visualize the nightsoil collectors walking past with their buckets, you wouldn't want to eat here at all, but the curry mee was fragrant and delicious.

In the mid-1960s, I used to wander along Penang Road in search of books and magazines. There were numerous sundry-cum-book stores run by Indian entrepreneurs along the roadside, such as one at the junction of Penang Road and Burmah Road, another at the staircase going up Penang Bazaar, and yet another at the staircase of the Boston Cafe building.

I distinctly remember United Happy Stores, a treasure trove for Enid Blyton storybooks and later, school textbooks. The last I knew of this United Happy Stores was that it had relocated to the row of shophouses at the Penang Road end of Chulia Street. It meant a longer distance to walk there from the Goh Pah Teng end of Penang Road, but I did walk there nevertheless, several times too.

But United Happy Stores eventually closed down as people moved away from reading. The shophouse was taken over by other businesses, and with the signboard replaced, I had forgotten United Happy Store's exact location until I saw a picture.

This picture was taken after 1988 because the completed KOMTAR tower could be seen clearly above the rooftop. Possibly, United Happy Stores survived into the 1990s. However, as I mentioned earlier, United Happy Stores was not originally at this location. It was on Penang Road itself, located in a small shophouse tucked between Kampong Malabar and Campbell Street.

My memories of United Happy Stores in this location are a bit clearer. It was the third shop from the start of the row of shophouses, counting from the Campbell Street junction end. The shophouse was very narrow, with an estimated width of maybe not more than 12 feet across. That meant there was very little space to move around except to walk straight through the shophouse.

There wasn't a big signboard above the shop front, just a modest, squarish sign hanging above the entrance. The United Happy Stores also served as a newsvendor station selling all sorts of newspapers and magazines of the day, including The Straits Times, the Straits Echo, Chinese and Indian newspapers. Boys like me would read the newspapers for free and then clip them back on the metal wire when we were done.

Then I came across a second picture that struck me. That third shop without the signboard was the United Happy Stores. In the picture, I could see the metal wire strung along the five-footway with newspapers hanging from it. This was more evidence that this was the shop I was looking for.

My eyes then strayed to the left and right of the picture. At the far right was a vertical signboard announcing the Zlin shoe shop. Zlin, as one of my friends told me, was the name of a town in Czechoslovakia famous for its shoe-making. Possibly that's why the shop in Penang was called Zlin.

Then my eyes darted to the other end of the picture, and they grew wide open when I recognized the name of Cheers Limited. Back in those days, it was a premier Scouting and sport accessory shop in town. It also carried imported quality toys. I entered the shop only once with my parents to pick up a toy, though I can't remember what it was now. Cheers later moved to Upper Penang Road.

At the far end of the row of shophouses was Cheng Lee & Co, which specialized in musical instruments and accessories. Cheng Lee later moved to MacAlister Road. But for a very long time, it was located just a shophouse away from Cheers. The shophouse in between was yet another shoe shop selling Bata shoes for schoolchildren. Beyond Cheng Lee was the Ho Ping coffee shop, which has since closed.

When these old shops were finally forced to relocate, the row was demolished to make way for new five-story blocks. A little attempt at rejuvenating this space. Eventually, however, even the businesses here suffered the march of time, and today, many of the shops are empty and awaiting sale.

Farewell, FFK

I received the heartbreaking news today that another one of my oldest chess friends, Fong Foo Khun, has passed away unexpectedly in the early hours of the morning. His sudden departure has left me feeling utterly deflated.

My friendship with Foo Khun dates back to 1974 when I first met him. That year, the Penang Chess Association organized its inaugural closed chess championship, and he emerged as the joint champion alongside Tan Kai Ming. Unfortunately, I couldn't participate in that tournament as I was studying in Kuala Lumpur at the time. However, I had the chance to get to know him later that year when I returned to Penang to play in the Asian Team Chess Championship.

Foo Khun was a jovial and amiable character, a true chess enthusiast, and a great friend. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to others. Over the past two decades or so, we would meet up at chess tournaments in Penang, usually once a year, and exchange warm greetings.

One memorable incident involving Foo Khun goes back to the late 1970s. The Penang Chess Association received an invitation for a friendly match in Taiping. We decided to make it a road trip and borrowed a car from Fang Ewe Churh, the founding president of the association. Foo Khun took charge of the driving, and the journey was mostly uneventful, except for a moment when he had to make a sudden swerve with just one hand on the steering wheel.

The last interaction we had on social media was less than a month ago, around September 6th. I was trying to convince him to sign up for the OFA Centenary chess tournament. Foo Khun's response was enthusiastic, and he asked for more information. I guided him through the process, including the need to apply for a FIDE ID. However, that seemed to have posed a challenge for him. Two days later, he messaged me, expressing his apologies for not being able to participate due to the complexity involved. His final words to me were "take care!"—an epitome of his thoughtfulness until the very end.

I will miss Foo Khun deeply. His passion for chess and his considerate nature left an indelible mark on me. Losing a friend with whom I shared countless memories and experiences is a profound loss. In times like these, I'll hold onto the cherished moments we had and the lessons he imparted, keeping his memory alive.

Forward to the past

Back in June of this year, my friend Lim Siang Jin and I embarked on a photographic journey, dedicating ourselves to exploring and capturing the essence of Penang Free School through our lenses. While my initial intent was simply to preserve these memories for personal enjoyment, Siang Jin had a more focused goal. Equipped with a borrowed Leica SL2-S camera, he aspired to showcase his work in an exhibition hosted by The Old Frees' Association (OFA). What better time to do so than during the OFA's Centenary celebrations?

Over the past three months, I've been assisting Siang Jin in securing approval from the OFA committee to hold this exhibition in their hall. And now, finally, his tireless efforts have culminated in a remarkable exhibition featuring a collection of evocative black-and-white photographs. These images are designed to evoke nostalgic emotions in anyone who has walked the corridors of Penang Free School, unless, of course, one possesses a heart of ice.

When I arrived at The Old Frees' Association this afternoon, I found Siang Jin fully immersed in the preparations for his photography exhibition. This exhibition showcases 31 black-and-white photographs that beautifully capture the essence of Penang Free School. These images pay a poignant tribute to the 1960s, a significant era in both of our personal journeys of growth and transformation.

The exhibition will run from September 28th until October 3rd, with the hall open daily from 10 am until 5 pm. The framed photographs will be available for purchase by the public at RM800 each, with 75 percent of the proceeds benefiting the PFS Student Leadership Workshops and Free School Guide, and the remaining 25 percent going to the OFA Sesquicentenary Education Fund. Siang Jin and I hope that visitors to the exhibition will be generous in their support by purchasing these photographs, thereby contributing to the growth and development of the students of Penang Free School. I can assure you that these photographs are well worth your support!

Centenary chess competition concludes

The OFA Centenary chess tournament proved to be a resounding success, and I must say that as the Tournament Director and organizer, I am quite pleased with the outcome. Notably, this was a FIDE-rated event, which is a rarity in Penang, and we executed it seamlessly at Penang Free School's Pinhorn Hall.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to Jonathan Chuah, who I appointed as the Chief Arbiter, and his dedicated team, which included Cheryl Ho and three volunteer tournament assistants. I also want to express my gratitude to Lim Li Yeong, the advisor of the PFS Chess Club, who remained present throughout the tournament and assisted in managing the storage boxes.

I am truly appreciative of See Swee Sie, the President of the Penang Chess Association, and her team for their unwavering support in every aspect. A special mention goes to Lim Poay Sim for his invaluable assistance in the FIDE ID approval process and supplying chess equipment. In addition, I would like to acknowledge Steven Cheong from the Malaysian Chess Federation for his role in the FIDE ID approvals, which greatly contributed to our tournament having so many new FIDE unrated players.

Most importantly, I want to express my deep appreciation to my sub-committee members, Ung Tay Aik and Terry Ong. We successfully executed this event, gentlemen!

The morning of the tournament was spent setting up the hall, and on Sunday, the tournament day itself, players, many accompanied by their parents and relatives, began arriving at 8:15 am. I was already at the school hall before eight o'clock, and the doors were open with schoolboy helpers in attendance. Jonathan and his father arrived shortly after, and along with Tay Aik and Terry, we set up the equipment. We made adjustments based on early feedback from a participant and quickly spaced out the tables in the hall since we had ample room.

By 8:30 am, we were ready to commence, and we decided to start at 8:40 am. I delivered a brief opening remark, expressing gratitude to all participants for their presence and introducing the Chief Arbiter and his assistants. Jonathan then conducted his briefing session, and we nominated a five-person Appeals Committee. We also invited Russian international master Pavel Shkapenko to draw for his color in the first round.

The event officially began at 9 o'clock, with three rounds before lunch and four rounds after. We managed to finish on time, and the prize-giving ceremony commenced at six-thirty. My thanks go to Lee Eu Beng and See Swee Sie for graciously presenting the prizes.

Taiping and Kuala Kurau day trip

I embarked on a day trip to Taiping and Kuala Kurau, with my mother-in-law joining us on the journey. It turned out to be a delightful excursion, taking us through the scenic secondary roads of southern Kedah and northern Perak.

Our adventure began with a detour through Serdang and Selama before we continued our journey along the eastern side of Red Hill Lake, eventually arriving in Taiping through Kamunting. By this time, we had worked up quite an appetite. Unfortunately, the Dragon Phoenix Restaurant was closed, so we opted for the Yu Xiang Seafood Restaurant. While it didn't quite meet our expectations, the dishes were reasonably priced, and we enjoyed a satisfying meal that cost us approximately RM86 for four dishes.

We initially planned to spend some leisure time at Taiping Lake, but our plans were disrupted by raindrops, prompting us to shorten our visit. Consequently, we decided to visit the Antong coffee mill, which is reputed to be the oldest in Malaysia. It struck me as odd that they weren't emphasizing their 90th anniversary this year. I believe that every milestone should be celebrated, as none of us can predict the future. Perhaps they are waiting for their 100th anniversary? Regardless, the mill was undergoing renovations, and the old bungalow building was off-limits to visitors. We did purchase some packets of coffee and tried their espresso ice-cream, which kept me awake for half the night.

From Taiping, we drove to the southern banks of the Kuala Kurau river to visit the Tai Tay Eah Temple located by the riverbank. Following our temple visit, we indulged in the ever-popular prawn omelette, although we found it a bit lacking in flavor this time. We also ordered an oyster omelette and a plate of fried mini-crabs. While the food was decent, it didn't particularly stand out. Afterward, we had an uneventful drive back home through Tanjong Piandang. The entire day seemed to pass by in the blink of an eye, but at least my mother-in-law found happiness in this delightful diversion in her life.

The temple pictured is the 聖菓院 temple in Kuala Kurau. Although not situated in Kuala Kurau town itself, it sits on the southern banks of the river. While the building may be relatively recent, possibly rebuilt on the same spot, the temple has a history dating back to 1882 when the ancestors of the present townsfolk immigrated from Hock Kien in China. They brought with them the worship of the deity Poh Seng Tai Tay (保生大帝) or Tai Tay Eah. It is unclear whether it was the original ashes in the joss stick urn or the deity's image itself that was brought over. The caretaker may claim it was the image, but it's challenging to ascertain if he knows for certain or is simply passing down a story through the generations.

This Tai Tay Eah is the same deity worshipped at the Cheng Leong Keong (清龙宫) temple in Jelutong on Penang Island. Both temples celebrate the deity's birthday on the 15th day of the third Chinese lunar month. The dates of establishment were sourced from AngKongKeng.com, and if accurate, the Kuala Kurau temple predates the one in Jelutong by several years! The Swee Cheok Tong (Seh Quah Kongsi) also commemorates the birthday of Tai Tay Eah, our chief resident deity, on the same day. In fact, the original name of our clan's house was Tai Tay Eah Society before it became known as Swee Cheok Tong when it was founded by our forefathers in 1846.

Farewell to three friends

The past three weeks have been a rollercoaster of emotions for me, filled with both anticipated joys and unexpected sorrows. While my schedule has been busy with planned activities, it has also been marked by unwelcome news of the passing of people I've known for over 40 or 50 years.

It all began on August 19th when we eagerly gathered for the Ban Hin Lee Bank reunion dinner at a prominent hotel in George Town. As my wife and I stepped out of the elevator, we were greeted by uproarious laughter echoing from the end of the corridor. "That must be Lean Hin," we thought to ourselves. His laughter was unmistakable, a sound we had heard countless times during our working years and even during the times when we were no longer part of the BHLBank family. But when we entered the foyer, where people were mingling and registering, Lean Hin was nowhere to be seen. His name was absent from the registration list, indicating that he couldn't attend the reunion. However, the strangest thing was hearing a laughter so distinct that it resembled his. And it wasn't just me; my wife had noticed it too.

The next day, we received word through our grapevine that Lean Hin had passed away due to a heart ailment. He had been unwell and hospitalized for over a month, yet nobody outside his immediate family knew about it. We were all shocked, but my wife and I were perhaps the most stunned.

Our acquaintance with Lean Hin dates back to 1983. He was a fellow Old Free and a member of The Old Frees' Association, albeit several years my junior. We never crossed paths in Penang Free School. My wife was working in the bank's Bukit Mertajam branch, and Lean Hin joined the staff as a clerk that year. He was friendly and amiable, eventually ascending to the position of branch manager in Kamunting when the bank was taken over by Southern Bank. Later, he worked at the Penang Turf Club for several years. He would have celebrated his 60th birthday in 2023.

Just three days later, another surprise shook us. A friend informed me that his uncle, his father's brother, had passed away on the 23rd morning at the age of 92. I had known Chong Kee Kian for an extended period. In the late 1970s, he dropped by the Hooi Lye Association in Kimberley Street one Sunday afternoon. He had heard about the Penang Chess Association's chess sessions there and was eager to join us for some friendly games. When I saw him entering and looking around at the players, none of whom paid him any attention, I approached him for a chat. Before long, we were challenging each other on the chessboard, marking the beginning of a decades-long friendship. It later turned out that Kee Kian was also an Old Free. Although chess was a hobby for him, his true passion was ballroom dancing. On one of their milestone anniversaries, he and his wife invited my wife and me to their anniversary dinner at a prominent heritage hotel. Throughout the evening, they glided gracefully across the dance floor, the perfect dance partners for each other.

The advent of the Covid-19 pandemic took a toll on his health. However, considering he was nearly 90 years old, it wasn't entirely surprising. He spent time in intensive care on several occasions but recovered each time. Unfortunately, he was no longer strong enough to venture out on his own. I can't recall the last OFA annual dinner he attended, but whenever we met, we greeted each other like old friends.

Then, on a Tuesday, I received a message from Chee Wooi informing me that his father had passed away that morning. I initially couldn't believe the news. How could Saw Boo Pheng be dead at 71? I had no inkling he was ill, let alone on the brink of death. It took me some time to accept it, but the information came from his son, so it had to be true. The peculiar thing was that in the past week or so, his name had suddenly crossed my mind. I had the inexplicable thought that I should get in touch with him. It was a mystery as to why or how that thought had occurred, but it did. Unexplainable.

Boo Pheng and I shared a long history. We met in May or June of 1972 at Han Chiang Primary School while playing chess. He was representing the Technical Institute team, and I played for the Penang Free School team. We were strangers, but by the end of the game, we had forged a friendship that would last for decades. In 1989, fate brought us together to collaborate on writing a beginner's book on chess with another friend. The publishers wanted a Bahasa Malaysia version, and Boo Pheng stepped in to assist with the translation. As he was both a teacher and a chess player, he understood what I needed, making the translation process seamless. The book, titled "Catur," was born. Interestingly, when the publishers later requested an English version of the book, I couldn't locate my original manuscript, and I had to translate the contents from Bahasa Malaysia back into English.

Beyond chess, we shared another passion: durian. In the 1990s, he would call me to join him on a durian hunt at the fruit stalls of Balik Pulau and Paya Terubong during durian season. The fact that I would travel all the way from Bukit Mertajam to meet in Paya Terubong is a testament to our mutual love for durian. Our durian adventures lasted for three or four years before I eventually grew weary of the long drive.

So here's to Lean Hin, Kee Kian, and Boo Pheng.