Johor’s Cluster school, Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar, is where some of the state and country’s most prominent figures spent their formative years. Ben Tan finds out how it has arrived ‘By Labore et Honore". ONE's school plays a significant role in shaping one's future.
Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar (MSAB), better known as English College to city folk, is one of those schools that has produced many well-known personalities in many fields in Malaysia.
Among those who spent their formative years in the secondary school is Tun Hussein Onn, our country's third Prime Minister.
Many of Johor's royal members, including the Sultan of Johor and his princes, Tunku Mahkota of Johor Tunku Ibrahim Ismail and Tunku Bendahara of Johor Tunku Abdul Majid Idris, are also English College alumni.
Principal Hj.Zulkifli Hj.Mahmud is rightly proud of the school's track record of producing so many fine, upstanding figures over the decades.
The school building in itself is a seminal piece of architecture and a landmark full of historical significance.
It was established in 1914 with an enrolment of 21 students from the Bukit Zahrah English School.
The system of administration used was similar to that of distinguished British schools. The school became the model for other English medium schools in Johor Baru.
In the late 1930s, the school was moved to its present site in Jalan Sungai Chat. The original building was white blocks in the colonial-style that made up the famous facade of the school.
From there, it began establishing a record of academic excellence and in the ensuing years, produced many students of high calibre and intellect, many of whom went on to contribute greatly to the progress of independent Malaya.
The Japanese occupation from 1941 to 1945 saw a break for English College. The school was converted into a factory and later as a military hospital. The school was reopened after the war in January 1946.
Early in 1960, the name English College was officially changed to Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar. This was done in the honour of the Father of Johor, Sultan Abu Bakar.
Its Latin motto "Labore et Honore" (By labour and honour) was kept and the Bahasa Malaysia translation, "Usaha Dan Jasa", introduced.
From the 1970s to the 1980s, MSAB went through many changes with the construction of more infrastructure and facilities, while firmly establishing itself as a premier school in the state.
By the early 1990s, the school had added a modern conference room and an audio-visual room, and introduced a new curriculum and a unit for blind students.
The school's senior assistant Aminolhuda Hassan said MSAB underwent several major changes in the past five years.
"Since 2005, we have worked on many programmes to achieve a balance of academic and sports excellence in the over 1,000 students," he said.
Aminolhuda said the 123 teachers have been pro-active in promoting language, social science, mathematics and science and technical vocational training.
He explained that this is in-line with the government's aspiration for the cluster school system.
MSAB has a museum to display the objects and histories of the various famous personalities that had graduated from the school. The Tun Hussein Onn Museum is of interest to visitors and history buffs.
MSAB's mini-science museum, meanwhile, houses old chemistry paraphernalia, some which go back to the 1950s and 1960s. There is also an insect display area where 25 species of butterflies, bees and bugs can be found.
MSAB was recently nominated as a high-performance sports school by the federal government.
Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar (MSAB), better known as English College to city folk, is one of those schools that has produced many well-known personalities in many fields in Malaysia.
Among those who spent their formative years in the secondary school is Tun Hussein Onn, our country's third Prime Minister.
Many of Johor's royal members, including the Sultan of Johor and his princes, Tunku Mahkota of Johor Tunku Ibrahim Ismail and Tunku Bendahara of Johor Tunku Abdul Majid Idris, are also English College alumni.
Principal Hj.Zulkifli Hj.Mahmud is rightly proud of the school's track record of producing so many fine, upstanding figures over the decades.
The school building in itself is a seminal piece of architecture and a landmark full of historical significance.
It was established in 1914 with an enrolment of 21 students from the Bukit Zahrah English School.
The system of administration used was similar to that of distinguished British schools. The school became the model for other English medium schools in Johor Baru.
In the late 1930s, the school was moved to its present site in Jalan Sungai Chat. The original building was white blocks in the colonial-style that made up the famous facade of the school.
From there, it began establishing a record of academic excellence and in the ensuing years, produced many students of high calibre and intellect, many of whom went on to contribute greatly to the progress of independent Malaya.
The Japanese occupation from 1941 to 1945 saw a break for English College. The school was converted into a factory and later as a military hospital. The school was reopened after the war in January 1946.
Early in 1960, the name English College was officially changed to Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar. This was done in the honour of the Father of Johor, Sultan Abu Bakar.
Its Latin motto "Labore et Honore" (By labour and honour) was kept and the Bahasa Malaysia translation, "Usaha Dan Jasa", introduced.
From the 1970s to the 1980s, MSAB went through many changes with the construction of more infrastructure and facilities, while firmly establishing itself as a premier school in the state.
By the early 1990s, the school had added a modern conference room and an audio-visual room, and introduced a new curriculum and a unit for blind students.
The school's senior assistant Aminolhuda Hassan said MSAB underwent several major changes in the past five years.
"Since 2005, we have worked on many programmes to achieve a balance of academic and sports excellence in the over 1,000 students," he said.
Aminolhuda said the 123 teachers have been pro-active in promoting language, social science, mathematics and science and technical vocational training.
He explained that this is in-line with the government's aspiration for the cluster school system.
MSAB has a museum to display the objects and histories of the various famous personalities that had graduated from the school. The Tun Hussein Onn Museum is of interest to visitors and history buffs.
MSAB's mini-science museum, meanwhile, houses old chemistry paraphernalia, some which go back to the 1950s and 1960s. There is also an insect display area where 25 species of butterflies, bees and bugs can be found.
MSAB was recently nominated as a high-performance sports school by the federal government.
