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Methodist Boys' School, Kuala Lumpur

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Methodist Boys' School, Kuala Lumpur
Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (L) Methodist, Kuala Lumpur
Address

,
50150

Information
School typeCluster school of excellence
High Performance School All-boys primary and secondary school
MottoLatin: Ora et Labora
English: Pray and Work
Religious affiliation(s)Christian
DenominationMethodist Church
Established1897
FounderRev. Dr. William T. Kensett
StatusOperational
School codeWEB0219
PrincipalJohn Toh
Grades(SK) Standard 1 - 6
(SMK) Form 1 - 6
GenderMale: Form 1-5
Co-ed: Form 6
CampusLarge School campus, at the city centre
Campus typeUrban
Colour(s)Or Yellow and Azure Blue
YearbookThe Excelsior
AffiliationMalaysia Ministry of Education
Websitewww.mbsskl.edu.my

Methodist Boys' School, Kuala Lumpur (Malay: Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (L) Methodist, Kuala Lumpur; abbreviated MBS Kuala Lumpur) is a semi-government aided Cluster School of Excellence[1] and High Performance School in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was founded in July 1897, making it one of the oldest schools in Malaysia. It is known as MBS and its students are known as MBSians. The school is also known as Horley School, a reference to one of its principals, Rev. William E. Horley, who was responsible for changing and giving the school its present name from the previous name of Anglo-Tamil School. The name Horley School has been widely misunderstood as a reference to marble, which is also called Horley in Chinese, a game that was popular amongst its students then. It is noted for its library, which attracts visits from many other schools.

In 2008, Methodist Boys' Secondary School was awarded cluster school status by the Malaysia Ministry of Education (MOE). In 2009, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (L) Methodist had 644 male students making the total number of students 644. It has a total of 60 teachers.2009

This school is also known as Marble School among the Petaling Street community. After more than a century and twenty-one years since its establishment by a British medical officer on the warship HMS Orion, Dr William T Kensett, MBSSKL has been awarded a cluster school by the Ministry of Education. MBSSKL is the only school in Kuala Lumpur that was established by a British military officer.

History

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MBSSKL was founded by Rev. Dr. William T. Kensett, a Royal Navy admiral of the battleship HMS Orion. In July 1897, he had the intention of establishing a church and school for the Tamil community in Kuala Lumpur and he left the British Navy. A small wooden shop house was acquired on the corner of Batu Road and Java Street, and the Tamil-dominated school was named the Anglo-Tamil school.

In 1899, Rev. Samuel Abraham became its first headmaster, leading a staff of four teachers. It was then registered as a government-aided school.

Three years later, the MBSSKL proper was founded by Rev. W. E. Horley at the temporary premises of an unused pork market in Malacca Street. The Anglo-Tamil School was absorbed into it, opening up the school to all races.

In 1904, the school decided to move to Petaling Hill (its present site) after several relocations by the sanitary board due to the dilapidated condition of the building. Thus the Anglo-Tamil school was renamed as the Methodist Boys' School Kuala Lumpur by Rev William E Horley, the name used to this day. Within eight months, sufficient funds were raised to erect a new building. Two new wings were built and playing fields laid.[2]

In 1954, 1st Kuala Lumpur Boys' Brigade Company was established at the school by Mr. Khoo Oon Soo and Mr. R. A. Allen. After the first few years, 1st KL was moved to the Wesley Church just next door to the school, while the school used the church premises as the first meeting place. 1st Kuala Lumpur Boys' Brigade Company is the third oldest group in Malaysia and the first oldest group in Kuala Lumpur. 1st KL is known due to its history in the results of band competitions, foot marches and Talent Time at the national level. 1st KL also produced a collection of President's Men and Founder's Men, as well as two Queen's Men.

In 1958, this school was divided into secondary schools (MBSSKL) and primary schools (MBPSKL) according to the national education policy at that time.

MBS anthem

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The School Song was composed in 1948 by former principal, Hugh F. Clancy. The music was harmonised by N.Swan, in the same year. The song was adapted from the originally titled "Go Northwestern Go", written in 1912 by Theodore Van Etten, a member of the Northwestern University Wildcat Marching Band then. The school anthem was sung over Radio Malaya in 1949 by the school choir.

Former principals

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Years Principal
1897-1899 Dr. William Thomas Kensett, M.D.
1899-1901 Rev. Samuel Abraham
1901-1907 Rev. William Edward Horley, M.B.E.
1908-1912 Robert T. McCoy, B.Sc
1913 Rev. B.J.Baughman, M.A.
1913 Rev. Walter Guy Parker, M.A.
1914 Rev. Preston Littlepage Peach, M.A.,M.M.E.
1915 Rev. George F. Pykett
1915-1919 Rev. Preston L. Peach, M.A.,M.M.E.
1919-1924 Rev. Walter Guy Parker, M.A.
1924-1926 Thomas William Hinch, O.B.E.
1926-1929 Rev. R.A. Blasdell, B.A. (Acting)
1930-1933 Rev. T.W. Bowmar
1934-1937 Rev. Preston L. Peach, M.A., M.M.E.
1938 Rev. W.A. Schurr, M.A., B.D. (Acting)
1939-1941 Rev. Preston L. Peach, M.A., M.M.E.
1942-1944 None - War Period
1945-1946 S. Kanagaratnam (Acting)
1947-1948 Rev. Preston L. Peach, M.A., M.M.E.
1949-1952 Hugh F. Clancy, B.A.
1950-1951 T.K. Cheong (Acting)
1952-1955 Dr. Ho Seng Ong, Ed.D, M.A., P.R.G.S.
1955-1968 T. Mori, R.C.D.
1969-1978 Tan Hee Heng, R.C.D.
1979-1985 Yong Chee Seng
1986-1995 Loh Kung Sing
1995-1996 Hew Yoon Yew
1997-2004 Loo Wan Yong
2004-2005 Moey Yoke Lai
2005-2017 Wong Chee Kheon
2017-2020 Brendan Ravi Chandran
2020-Incumbent John Toh Kok Min

Co-curricular

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Uniform bodies

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There are 10 uniformed bodies in the school as of 2023. Some examples are:

10th Kuala Lumpur Air Scout Group

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10th Kuala Lumpur Air Scouts was established in 1915 and absorbed 15th Kuala Lumpur Scouts Troop after the second World War.[3]

1st Kuala Lumpur Boys' Brigade Company

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Founded by Mr. Khoo Onn Soo and Mr. R. A. Allen under the sponsorship of Wesley Methodist Church, Kuala Lumpur in 1954. 1st Kuala Lumpur Boys Brigade was the third company to be established in Malaysia and the first company to be established in Kuala Lumpur.[4]

Kuala Lumpur No.6 Ambulance Cadet Division of St. John Ambulance Malaysia

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KLN6ACD is a division under St. John Ambulance of Malaysia, part of an international voluntary service organisation dedicated to training and providing first aid skills. The division has had numerous achievements in competitions at the state and national levels, and continues to be a major contributor in voluntary first aid service within the school as well as the public through duties coordinated by the State Officers.

Sports house

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Sport House Name Colour Motto
Foong Wah En. Foong Yat Wah Red Unity, Courage and Faith
Doraisamy En. Doraisamy Pillai Purple Labour conquers all things (Labor Omnia Vincit)
Chow Thye En. Loke Chow Thye Blue Ever Linking
Loke Yew En. Loke Yew Yellow To Serve, To Strive but Not To Yield
Horley Rev. Horley Green Ever Onward
Shellabear Rev. Shellabear Grey
Mori En. T Mori Brown
Goh Tong En. Lim Goh Tong Oren

Alumni association

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The alumni association of MBSSKL is known as MBSalumni, previously known as MBSOBA (Methodist Boys' School Old Boys Association).[5] Its first documented meeting was in 1919. It was set up with the objective of providing a platform for all former students to keep in touch with each other and also to maintain contact with the school.

Notable alumni

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Academician

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Business

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Law

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Public service

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  • Cheong Choong Kong - Chairman of the Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Singapore and former CEO of Singapore Airlines

Politics

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Media and entertainment

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Medical

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  • Noor Hisham Abdullah - Endocrine surgeon and former Director General of Health of the Malaysian Ministry of Health, since 1 March 2013

References

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  1. ^ "Popular principal bids farewell after 12 years". The Star. Kuala Lumpur. 4 July 2017.
  2. ^ MBS Centenary Commemorative Book.
  3. ^ "About Us | 10th KL Air Scouts". Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2012. About 10th KL Air Scouts. Retrieved September 2009
  4. ^ ":::1st Kuala Lumpur Boys' Brigade Company::: - About Us". Archived from the original on 28 July 2009. Retrieved 4 September 2009. About 1st KL. Retrieved September 2009
  5. ^ M, Bavani (25 July 2006). "Old boys stay true to school". The Star. Kuala Lumpur. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
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