This was SMK Tinggi Kajang before World War II. Note the clock tower in the background.
A CALL is going out to all former students of SMK Tinggi Kajang, also known as Kajang High School, to come together for the school’s 100th anniversary celebration in 2019.
Well before the big event, an old boys’ reunion dinner will be held on April 2 at 6pm on the school’s grounds.
The school, which was incepted in 1919, has a rich history and its British architecture including a clock tower, has stood the test of time.
Today, the school has 147 teachers and 1,147 students.
Principal Nik Mat Nik Man, who will be retiring this year, felt that there was a need for his successor, with the help of the Education Ministry, to preserve the school’s heritage.
“The school has more that 100 artefacts in its archive room, including pictures of a Japanese soldiers’ hideout hole, which was found in the school field,” he said, adding that the hole had since been closed off by the Royal Malaysian Army.
One of the first school magazines produced by Kajang High School in 1939. It is among the artifacts kept in the school’s archive room.
“In 1930, the school was officiated by Sultan Alaiddin Sulaiman Shah of Selangor.
“The school was then moved from its original site to the present 11.3ha land 11 years later.
“During the Japanese occupation in Malaya from 1941 to 1945, the school building was the headquarters of the Japanese Army known as ‘Toa Seinen Gakko’,” he said.
It later became the first teacher training college.
“The old clock tower and fire hydrant, which still stand today, are remnants of British colonial times,” he said.
Nik Mat added that many former students now teach at the school.
“It will be difficult to gather all the old boys for the big occasion, that is why we are doing it in stages,’’ he said.
Nik Mat in front of the school. The clock tower has survived through the years.
SMK Tinggi Kajang is known for its sports teams such as football and cricket and excellence in academic achievement for STPM in Selangor, receiving the STPM Highest Achievement Award in Selangor for 2013 and 2014.
The Finance Ministry has given the school a budget of RM560,000 to build an outdoor court while the Education Ministry has approved about RM1mil for the school to upgrade its field.
Billy Lee, an old boy who is now a teacher at the school, said he was very proud to be a former student of the school and had returned to serve his alma mater.
“As a student, I did not imagine that I would come back to teach here.
“It is fulfilling to teach English in a school that I have many fond memories of growing up.
“When I was schooling here, my friend and I were out looking for firewood one day in 1973 and he fell into the Japanese soldier’s hideout hole – he was lucky he did not get hurt,” he said, adding that when the army entered the site, live ammunition was found underground.
Nik Mat (centre) points to an old wooden plate with names of the school’s principals while teacher Billy Lee and the school’s Form Six senior assistant Rizal Uzir looks on.
“There is so much historical value in this school and it must be preserved for the future generations to appreciate.
“We hope that the former students will come forward to show their support and catch up on old times,’’ said Lee, adding that the school was also building a database on former students.
For details on the celebration and the dinner, call Lee at 016-271 8299.
No comments:
Post a Comment