The Launching of Penang Free School Bicentary Celebrations (1816-2016)

Let me congratulate the Penang Free School Bicentenary Committee for kickstarting the 200th Anniversary celebrations for the Penang Free School. The school was established on 21 October 1816 by Rev Rober Sparke Hutchings and I am deeply honored to deliver the opening remarks as the Penang’s Chief Minister as well as the Chairman of the trustee of the Penang Free School Trust Fund.

Since 1816, the original Penang Free School was located at its original premises on Farquhar Street that first housed the Hutchings School, but is now the Penang State Museum. Then in 1928, the school moved to its current location on Jalan Masjid Negeri. Penang Free School is the first English-medium school in South East Asia and is the oldest recorded school in the country.

It is widely recognized as one of Penang's premier schools and alumni are known as "Old Frees". However, the word Free in the school’s name has given a misconception that the school provided free education. In fact, the school provided an open and equal educational opportunities to everyone, including the poor and non-whites back then.

As the trustee of the Penang Free School Trust Fund (also known as Wang Amanah Sekolah Penang Free School), which provides scholarships and prizes to the pupils of Penang Free School, I am delighted that PFS has continued the tradition of providing needy students financial aid that could help them excel in their studies and provide a better path for their lives for the future.

Lets not forget some of the notable alumni that PFS has produced over the years. Most prominent among them were: Tuanku Syed Putra (the third Yang di-Pertuan Agong), Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin (the 12th Yang di-Pertuan Agong), Tunku Abdul Rahman (the first Prime Minister), Tun Dato’ Seri Utama Dr Lim Chong Eu (the second Chief Minister) and Dr Wu Lien-Teh (famed plague fighter and Nobel Prize nominee in 1935). Dr Lim and Dr Wu were among the country’s most brilliant Queen’s Scholars.

Today is indeed meaningful as the launching of FIDELIS marks an important occassion to celebrate PFS’s Bincentenary event in 2016. I am sure the editorial team has spent countless hours to produce the commemorative book. Those priceless hours of toiling to meet the deadline to complete the final draft and eventually print has indeed left an important reminder of what PFS was for those on the editorial board.

I am certain that FIDELIS will capture the heart and soul of the Penang Free School which will serve as a great reminder to the past, present and future students of the school. I am truly excited to also have a read of the FIDELIS and I am certain that the work done is of good quality and world-class production.

Lastly, I will like to congratulate the president, the management committee and the editorial team of The Old Frees’ Association for producing and launching FIDELIS, the commemorative book of The Old Frees’ Association, which comes as a timely reminder that the Penang Free School will be celebrating its Bicentenary or 200th anniversary in 2016.

Whilst we celebrate our part, we must look forward to the future as George Orwell said in his book '1984' - “Those who control the present control the past. Those who control the past control the future.” We do not seek to control the past but to connect with the past so that we can connect with the future to confront the challenges together.

In that spirit lets us remember, Robert Frost's famous words, “The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep”.

Thank you and I wish all the Old Frees’ all the very best and I look forward to celebrating with you in your Bicentenary in 2016.