Methodist Boys’ Secondary School Kuala Lumpur

There is no stopping for our Ping Pong boys again this year in the MSSWP (Majlis Sukan Sekolah Wilayah Persekutuan) Ping Pong Championship. Not only MBSSKL is the KL team champion but the singles led by Goh Nai Ngee, Hiew Weng Keat and Lee Kuan Wing finished champion, runners up and second runners up. And to add sweetness to this victory, Goh Nai Ngee partnered Hiew Weng Keat to grab the doubles champion medal as well. All the three boys will represent KL in the national MSSM championship this year.

The speech day on 17 April 2010 was another day which was graced by a prominent alumnus, this time none other than ‘WATERCO’ Goh Soon Sinn, the man who started the famous WATERCO filter in Australia and later parts of Asia, including Malaysia. Incidentally, the company controls a third of the Australian residential swimming pool equipment market, and employs 650 people worldwide. Mr Goh was given a warm and rousing welcome with a song by the Boys’ Brigade and then inspected the guard of honour formed by the uniform units of the school. After the inspection, he was given the traditional kompang welcome before proceeding to the hall. Seen together in this occasion were Mr Chooi Mun Sou, the chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr Peter Yap, the Vice President of the MBS KL Alumni Association, Mr Yong Chee Seng, ex-principal and also Mr Michael Fu, an alumnus from New Zealand. In his speech Mr Goh touched on his early days in the school and how the Science knowledge and skills learnt in school had been found to be useful in his work as an entrepreneur in an engineering and construction company. He continued to say that he was not a prize winner during his school days but with sheer hard work, determination and the values he acquired in MBSSKL, he was able to build his company to what it is today.

MBSSKL was crowned champion in the National Interschool Debating Championship on 20 April 2010. The team comprising third former Viknaraja, fourth former Michael Fork and fith formers Pavitharan and Leong Guobin went through a grueling and intensive five days competition to emerge victors by beating SMK Damansara Utama. The teams had to choose a motion from a given choice of three after negotiation with the opponents. They had to prepare their arguments and get to the venue of the competition all within 30 minutes. A minimum of three competitions were held each day. Truly this was a test of both mental and physical endurance. From an initial rank of 28th, the boys moved up to the third where they remained until the finals. During the quarter finals and semifinals, MBSSKL was the only team which secured unanimous wins from a team of five and seven judges respectively. The best speaker award for the finals was won by Viknaraja. Viknaraja’s strategic and clear laying out of the motions as the Prime Minister, Michael’s immense pool of knowledge to support the argument as the Deputy and Parvitharan’s keen eye for clash points made them too formidable a team to defeat. To cap these qualities were their humility and teamwork; very much the MBSSKL spirit.

This annual debating championship, organised by the International Islamic University, draws some of the best schools in the country – full boarding schools, religious schools, day schools, private schools and even MRSM.

Three MBS students, Ernest Cheah Hock Kuan, Kwa Bee Bee and Wong Ken Sheng stole the limelight in the graduating class of December 2008/09, Bachelors of Applied Science, University Malaysia Terengganu by emerging with First Class Honours. There were seven First Class Honours and three of them were MBS students. All of them are now gainfully employed in the corporate world. All three finished their Form 6 in MBS in 2005 with good STPM results and entered the same course the following year. It is indeed proud to know that many of the MBS students are performing very well in the local universities. The education they received in their years in MBS has contributed tremendously to their success.

Wong Ken Sheng proudly showing his graduation certificate

The Bangsar Zone chess tournament organized by the State Education Department saw a near clean sweep by the MBS boys in the U-15 category. Lead by national ranked chess players Yap Eng Chiam, Albert Ang and Tan Wei Hao, who were champions, first runners-up and second runners-up respectively, our boys swept nearly all the first 12 places, except for fourth, tenth and eleventh placings. It was indeed a great feat and the training by the coaches and guidance of their teacher Yong Lai Yean have come to fruition. The U-18 boys did not fare so well but still managed to clinch second runners-up and fourth placings. Let us hope they will produce the same feat in the state championship. Chess is a niche area in MBS under the Cluster School of Excellence Program. Go forward MBS!

The School Sports Day on 10 April 2010 saw the return of alumnus and ex-teacher Prof. T Vasudevan to officiate this grand and joyous event. The morning did not start well as the rain had poured overnight and drizzled continuously until about 9.30am. But that did not dampen the spirit of the students and teachers. A lot of hard work had been put into its preparation.

The program kicked off with the announcement of the arrival of the guest-of-honour. All present were then requested to stand to sing the National Anthem and the Malay version of the school song. The much awaited March Past followed, with the the Boys Brigade leading the Uniform Units and the Sports Houses. Professor was requested to step forward to the podium to receive the salute of the March Past. The symbolic flag raising ceremony followed to indicate that the start of the competition.

Next, was the oath taking ceremony lead by the school sportsman and Professor was then introduced to the contingent of the sports houses accompanied by the Principal.

Professor gave an inspiring speech before declaring the sports officially open. In his speech he gave a brief history of himself as teacher under Mr T Mori and how he managed to bring the glamour of sports to MBS, making it the champion on a number of events. He encouraged the students to excel in their sporting endeavours and always show respect to their teachers.

All the events went on smoothly with the final one being the tug-of-war between the parents and teachers.

The champion sport house went to Foong Wah, which also won the best March Past. The best decorated house was Goh Tong and the Boys’ Brigade won the best March Past for the uniform units category.