About
The Malay College Kuala Kangsar
I'm a budak koleq, so I guess I won't be really objective in
writing about this really old alma-mater of mine.
For those of you who do not know where the Malay College Kuala Kangsar
is, well it is situated in the royal town of Kuala Kangsar, in the
state of Perak. Kuala Kangsar itself is a very romantic town, I must
say. There are a lot of old, colonial buildings and only recently
has rapid development taken place. Old boys will probably still
remember eating in Yut Loy (it still stands today) and in the stalls
by the majestic Perak river.
Rather in the middle of town, you will see an old Graeco-Roman building
that proudly stands among other newer (though still old) buildings.
That is the Malay College Kuala Kangsar.
It was in the walls of this edifice, countless Malay leaders, corporate
figures, scientists, academicians and more have been born and bred.
Quoting Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al Haj, Malaysia's father of
independance, "The future of the Malays lies in the Malay College
classroom." And that was an acknowledgement from an outsider, not
an old boy.
How many schools in the world can lay claim in producing, among others,
a United Nations General Assembly President, a Prime Minister, seven
Kings, countless ministers, exceptional geniuses, billionaires,
and at the same time bureucrats, politicians on both sides of the
political fence, student activists, and actors ? None. That is the
essence of the Malay College-leadership excellence.
Another special thing is the traditions. Quoting Adlan Benan Omar,
debater for England in the World Debate, and recipient of the 1997
Malaysia Youth Award, an old boy,"The Malay College holds the trump
card for conservatism." Age old traditions, some dating since the
establishment of the College continues to be practiced among
Collegians. The uniqueness of the cheering tradition (other schools
are trying to emulate it, but sadly, they have failed to compete with
the College cheering squad), the College spirit and the love for
school still exists among the new generation of Collegians. Another
thing which the Collegians are famous for are of course the brotherhood
and networking. Friends made in the College are friends for life.
Succesfull Collegians would instantly give a chance to another person
who wears his old school tie. This networking has irked the others
who brand the Collegians as 'MCKK Mafia'. It's true that
this has led to cronyism, but the Collegians would say that they prefer
other Collegians rather than outsiders as they have more faith in
this so called Creme de la creme of society who have the
distinct values inherited as a Collegian.
True, Collegians are more often than not, seen as snobs, elitists and
arrogant men. However, this has changed slowly, when the Collegians
have proved to be more open minded in dealing with other people.
Taking a line from the College song, "Education for all...",
the College since the 1940s have opened it's doors to all, be it sons
of fishermen, farmers, the middle class or princes of the royal
families. All the differences are shed when they become students
of the Malay College, as they play on the same field, sleep in the same
dormitaries, eat the same ration and come out all as products of the
Malay College.
Upon leaving College, the Collegian does not severe his College
connection, where he can become a member of the distinguished
Malay College Old Boys Association (MCOBA) and return to the College
during the Old Boys Weekend, which is now being emulated by other
old boy associations. On Wednesday, the famous burgundy tie of the
College is worn, to tell everybody that he is a product of the Eton
of the East. In Tun Razak's time, it is said, that during the weekly
cabinet meeting, half of the ministers would be wearing the College
tie, as all of them were Collegians.
In recent years, the College is said to be deteriorating. The status
from a federal instituition has been downgraded to that of a normal
school under the State Education Department. The facilities which once
were the best in the country are now gathering dust and in ill-repair.
Nevertheless, the College remain to be excellent, and still can beat
the likes of newer, privately funded institutions such as Kolej Yayasan
Saad and Kolej Tuanku Jaafar and also newer public boarding schools.
As the College is not about the building or the facilities, but about
the Collegians themselves. The last bastion of the Malays is here.
Here, young Malays are taught the survival of their race, and nobody
can deny that the Collegians have been integral in ensuring the
future of the Malays.
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