R. Suntharalingam was a pupil of Mahmud School in Raub in his early years and continued his
secondary education at the Victoria Institution from 1952 to 1956. An outstanding batsman and
bowler, he played cricket for the school and was made the V.I. Cricket Vice-Captain in 1955, and
Captain in the following year. He was also the Yap Kwan Seng House Captain in his final year at the V.I.
He graduated from the University of Malaya in Singapore in March, 1959, with a Bachelor of Arts
degree with first class honours in history. He taught for a few months at his alma mater as a
temporary teacher in 1960. The headmaster, Dr. G. E. D. Lewis, seeing a rare combination of Old
Boy cum historian, commissioned him to write an official history of the school, as none had
existed hitherto. Suntharalingam returned to the University of Malaya to read for his M.A. in
May 1960 and on receiving his degree, went on to pursue his Ph. D. at the School of Oriental and
African Studies in London. He began his academic career at the History Department of University
of Malaya in Singapore, rising to the position of Senior Lecturer by 1975. He was Acting Head of
the Department from 1970 to 1972.
He was appointed Associate Professor in the History Department, Universiti Sains Malaysia, in
July 1975, and simultaneously held the post of Department Coordinator from December 1975 to
September 1979. Dr Suntharalingam was involved with the design of many major and minor courses
in the History Department and with various historical projects. During his academic career, he
specialized in Indian History, focussing on Indian nationalism. He wrote two textbooks and many
learned articles. He retired in 1991.
Dr. Suntharalingam was held in high regard by his students and colleagues alike. He had a
reputation for being a disciplined and well-prepared lecturer. He would be the first at his
office at 8.00 a.m. every working day well before his colleagues arrived. He mixed well with his
students and was patient and caring to weak students who went to him for guidance. He had a
clear voice that carried to the furthest reaches of the lecture hall. His well-paced lectures
would be well supported by course outlines, reading lists and tutorial topics. But woe betide
any student who was not prepared for his tutorials! A quiet, modest person, he eschewed fame and
and write books. A collection of essays by his USM colleagues and former students, Isu-isu
Pensejarahan, was published in 1995 and dedicated to him. Dr. Suntharalingam passed away in 1998.
rank, and did not bother to apply for the position of Professor, preferring to teach, research
Dr. Suntharalingam's work, A Short History of the Victoria Institution 1893-1961, was
released on 28th March, 1962, and a copy was sold to every Victorian. The Headmaster, Dr. Lewis,
expressed the hope that the book would be made compulsory reading for all new pupils entering
the V.I. thereon and hoped that it would be revised from time to time. To make sure that the
current batch of Victorians knew their V.I. history, a compulsory test was scheduled for the
whole school a month later. Only a minority failed to pass the objective test. The pupil with
the highest mark was Phua Juay Chee of Form 5B who obtained 47 marks out of a possible 50, and
was awarded a book prize. The next five top scorers were Kwan Kin Kun (4B), Leong Wee Chuen (4A),
Nor Azian bt Idris (U6A2), Foo Yeow Leong (4B) and Quah Chek Jwee (4B). Phua Juay Chee went on
to become the V.I. School Captain in 1964.
CHAPTER 1
THE FOUNDATION OF THE VICTORIA INSTITUTION
he rapid development of Selangor, following the establishment of the British Protectorate in
1874, created a growing demand for English education. The British administration in Selangor
needed a regular supply of subordinate officers, who could speak and write fluent English, to
man its expanding government machinery. As there were no locally qualified men, the officers
were mostly recruited from India or Ceylon, or sometimes from the Straits Settlements. Clearly
there was a need for an English school which could meet the demand of the local government.
Consequently, a Government English School was established in 1890, but it was soon found to be
inadequate. As late as 1892, the High Commissioner, Sir Cecil Clementi Smith, drew attention to
the unsatisfactory nature of educational facilities in the state.
The Government was not alone in realizing the need for educational facilities in the state. The
people of Selangor, in their turn, also felt the need, and this was reflected in the demand for
English education made by such public spirited men as Towkay Loke Yew, Captain China Yap Kwan
Seng, and Thamboosamy Pillay. The Selangor Government could not for long ignore these demands,
and the British Resident, W. H. Treacher agreed to help. It was the joint efforts of these men,
which eventually led to the foundation of the Victoria Institution.
The chief obstacle in the way of realizing their aim to build a school was the lack of funds.
But in March, 1893, W. H. Treacher discovered that a sum of $3,188/- had been deposited in the
Treasury as the money unexpended from the funds raised in 1887 for the erection of a permanent
memorial to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. Treacher suggested to the sponsors
of the subscription that the money could be utilized to build a school. As the fund was raised
for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, and as it formed the nucleus of the building fund, the new
school was named the Victoria Institution.
Finding the idea acceptable, W. H. Treacher convened a meeting of the sponsors of the Jubilee
Fund on the 15th June, 1893. At this important meeting, a scheme was launched to build a
school to be run on lines similar to those of Raffles Institution in Singapore. It was also
resolved to ask the High Commissioner's sanction for a number of items:
Firstly, to call for a government contribution of $5,000/- to meet the sum of $7,825/- paid by
the Trustees;
secondly, to ask the Government to get the approval of the State Council for a regulation
imposing an assessment of one per cent on all houses and lands in Kuala Lumpur, the proceeds of
which were to be paid to the Trustees of the Institution;
thirdly, to fix an annual Government Grant not exceeding $3,000/- to be paid to the funds of the
proposed Institution;
fourthly, to call upon the Government to grant a suitable site, free from premium and rent, so
long as it was used for educational purposes;
and fifthly, to run the proposed Institution as a Grant-in-aid School, managed by a Board of
twelve Trustees with the President (British Resident) and three other Government officers being
ex-officio members.
It was further resolved during the meeting that the Government be asked to give favourable
consideration to the establishment of Government scholarships for the proposed Institution, and
to the selection of boys from the School for subordinate appointments in the Government Service.
The scheme for the buildings of the School was laid before the High Commissioner, Sir Cecil
Clementi Smith, and while giving his wholehearted approval, he also expressed his appreciation
for the manner in which the public had shown an active interest in promoting the scheme. He was
especially full of praise for the founders of the School who in addition to Treacher, included
Loke Yew, Yap Kwan Seng and Thamboosamy Pillay. The founders besides taking an active interest,
had also displayed "their great liberality."
As the sum of $3,188/- was clearly inadequate to meet the costs of the proposed Institution,
the founders launched an appeal for donations. This appeal realized over $10,700/-. Among those
who donated generously was Sultan Abdul Samad, whose handsome sum of $1,100/-, went a long way
in meeting the financial inadequacies. In appreciation of his financial assistance, Sultan Samad
was made one of the first two patrons of the School, the other being Sir Cecil Clementi Smith.
The demand of the Trustees for a Government contribution to the fund brought $5,000/-. The
Government also undertook to provide $3,000/- per year as a school grant, while an education
rate not exceeding one per cent on all houses and lands in Kuala Lumpur was expected to realize
about $2,250/-. It appeared that there was sufficient funds to begin the construction of the
proposed Institution. The generosity of the Kuala Lumpur residents, and the willing assistance
of the Government had crystallized what was once an idea into reality. The Victoria Institution,
besides being a permanent memorial to Queen Victoria's Jubilee, is also a living symbol of Kuala
Lumpur's initiative and effort.
The problem of site was solved when the Government provided about 8 acres of land in High Street,
on the left bank of the Klang River, to accommodate the proposed school building and the
Headmaster's quarters. Building construction began in 1893; on 14th August, 1893, Mrs. W. H.
Treacher laid the foundation stone of the School. Before the end of the year, the building was
fast assuming a concrete form.
Although the school was not ready to begin session in January, 1894, the Trustees decided to
make use of the Government English School for the time being. As the appointment of the
Headmaster was yet to be made, the Rev. Haines acted as the Headmaster. And so the Victoria
Institution commenced its career, though not within its own walls, on the 15th January, 1894,
with a staff of three, besides the Rev. Haines. A total of 86 boys attended school on the
first day.
The school building in High Street was ready for occupation in July, 1894. It consisted of one
school block (Block No. 1) and the Headmaster's quarters, built at a cost of $11,500/-. Mr.
Bennet Eyre Shaw was appointed the first Headmaster, his selection being made by the Colonial
Office in London. The official opening of the School in the new building was fixed for 30th
July, 1894. After this, all the teachers and the pupils of the Government English School were
absorbed into the Victoria Institution. The attendance register showed a total number of 115
students, who represented boys from Standard I to VI. The School fee was fixed at $1/per month.
The management of the School was in the hands of a Board of twelve Trustees, w'hich was presided
over by the British Resident. The first President of the Board was W. H. Treacher, one of the
founders of the Victoria Institution. The other founders all served on the first Board of
Trustees. The Secretary to the Board was the Headmaster of the Victoria Institution. By an
enactment of 1899 the Board became a Corporation, and everything invested in the name of the
Board henceforth came under the control of the Corporation.
CHAPTER 2
VICTORIA INSTITUTION AS A GRANT-IN-AID SCHOOL JULY, 1894-SEPTEMBER, 1925
hese three decades were probably the most eventful and momentous years in the history of the
Victoria Institution. The period was dominated by the personality of Bennett Eyre Shaw, the
first Headmaster of the School, and its only one for about 28 years. In a way, the story of the
School in this period is virtually synonymous with the work of Shaw. The achievement of Shaw was
to lay a broad base upon which the School come to rest in subsequent years.
Prior to his appointment to the Victoria Institution, Shaw was an Assistant Master in a leading
London school. When he took over the Victoria Institution, a number of problems, which were
peculiar to a new school, soon confronted him. The first problem was the question of attendance,
which tended to be irregular in the early days. Shaw realized that if regular attendance was not
insisted upon, it would demoralize the work of other students. Shaw assumed a strict attitude
towards those who persistently absented themselves without a good cause; eventually, he was
forced to weed out those who persistently kept away from school. At the same time, to promote
regular attendance, he offered prizes to those who had attended school regularly over a period.
The success of his measures can be gauged from the gradual improvement in average attendance as
the years went by. And so in 1902, the average attendance was 93 per cent, a remarkably high
percentage, for a school that was only eight years old.
Another early problem which confronted Shaw was the irregular payment of fees. Shaw took steps
to enforce strictly a regular payment and in this too, his strict measures were successful. Shaw
was also a disciplinarian, and the standard of conduct he achieved in the Victoria Institution
was surprisingly high for a school which had begun so recently. Shaw's successors have always
endeavoured to maintain and improve the standard of conduct, which has been one of the hall marks
of the School. It was also left to Shaw, as Headmaster, to draw up his School curriculum. Shaw
felt that a balanced curriculum needed the training of both the mind and the body. Here again,
Shaw's pioneering work has been integrated into the tradition of Victoria Institution
educational system.
Shaw hoped to make classroom lessons interesting both for the boys and the teachers. In this way,
he hoped to achieve the best results. As soon as he assumed office, he introduced elementary
science, recitation and drawing. Shaw was also keen on introducing technical education,
especially at a higher level, for he realized that a developing state like Selangor badly needed
skilled labour.
Shaw kept in touch with current advances that were being made in educational science. He kept
expanding or modifying School curriculum with the latest theories on school education. He
analysed examination results carefully to remedy faults in the school educational system. In
1895, he was called upon by the Government to draft the Education Code, along lines of the
latest English Code.
Weekly report cards was introduced by Shaw, so as to give parents an idea of the progress being
made by boys in the School. At the same time, parents were also induced to take an interest in
the welfare of their children, which was important for the success of the boys in their
educational career. In an attempt to achieve good results, Shaw and his staff sacrificed a good
deal of their spare time solving the difficulties of their pupils.
In trying to promote education in the School, and at the same time to perpetuate the memory of
some leading public figures, a number of scholarships were founded, for which the boys of the
Victoria Institution were allowed to compete late in 1894, the Treacher Scholarship was founded
in honour of Sir W. H. Treacher who was one of the founders of the School. In the following
year, J. P. Rodger, British Resident in Selangor, founded the Rodger Medal. In 1898, the
Steve-Harper Memorial Fund was founded, and in 1909 the Nugent-Walsh Scholarship was floated.
These scholarships were an excellent media in which education could be promoted and from the
beginning a keen competition ensued for the scholarships.
Shaw was an advocate for the establishment of Oxford or Cambridge Local Examinations in Kuala
Lumpur. He felt that such a measure would induce promising boys of the Victoria Institution to
remain in school to further their studies instead of leaving after passing Standard VI. Boys
from the Victoria Institution prior to 1900, had to travel to Singapore by boat to sit for these
examinations. In 1900, however, Shaw's hope was realized and Kuala Lumpur was made a centre for
the Cambridge Local Examinations.
Shaw regarded extra curricular activities only second in importance to that of the classroom.
From the very beginning, Shaw spent a great deal of time planning out-of door activities for the
boys. Football, Cricket and Athletics were among the earliest activities introduced in the
School. The first School Athletic Sports was held in 1898, and it henceforth became an annual
affair, with practically the whole town turning up in the early days to watch the boys run.
In 1900, A. C. J. Towers organised the St. Mary's Cadet Corps, which was only for those who
professed faith in Christianity. When Shaw returned from leave in 1901, he converted it to the
Victoria Institution Cadet Corps with Towers as its first Captain. The Victoria Institution
Cadet Corps was the first of its kind in Malaya. Shaw was also involved in another pioneering
work, when he founded the First Selangor Boy Scouts in 1909. The boys of the Victoria Institution
showed a great deal of enthusiasm, and in both these organisations the Victoria Institution
displayed a high standard of efficiency. The Cadet Corps had its first Camp in Port Dickson in
1920.
Shaw placed a lot of emphasis on physical training, both for the pupils and the staff. Besides
organising games, he also made drill and gymnastics an integral part of the general educational
system of the School. The high degree of efficiency reached by the masters and the pupils of the
School earned the Victoria Institution the reputation of being the model school for Vocational
and Physical Education in Malaya. In fact, the Victoria Institution was the only School in Malaya
to have a trained staff properly qualified to teach drill. There were also Art and Handicraft
classes, and a well equipped Workshop, which provided for manual work.
Shaw also inaugurated another novelty which was martial in character and in keeping with the
spirit that prevailed in the early days of the First World War. This was the Pipe and Bugle Band,
which was attached to the Cadet Corps. It was very popular both among the boys and the public.
To further competitive spirit among the boys, and at the some time provide them with an
opportunity to play games among themselves, Shaw in 1921 divided the School into five houses.
Shaw's successor, R. J. H. Sidney carried this division a stage further in 1923, when he divided
the School into ten Houses, each House assuming the name of a celebrity who had taken an active
interest in the Victoria Institution. Thus the names of the founders of the School are still
perpetuated in the Victoria Institution. In 1929, the number of houses was again cut down to
five.
The outbreak of the first World War saw the European members of the staff enlisting for active
service overseas. Among those who enlisted and left for England were G. Ambler, J. B. Carr and
G. Barber; C. G. Coleman left to join the forces in India. Among those killed in action were
Thonley, W. C. Curtis and G. Barber.
The development of the School was rapid during the first few decades. When the new Victoria
Institution building was opened in July, 1894, the number of boys on register was 115; by 1902
the number had increased to 532, and in 1924 the total was 950. This phenomenal increase in the
numbers attending the school was a reflection of the growing demand for English education and
the rapid development of Kuala Lumpur.
This increased admission created many problems especially of accommodation and equipment; and so
the original building was soon duplicated and even triplicated. In 1899 a two-storey building,
(Block No. 2) consisting of six classrooms beneath and masters' quarters above was constructed
at a cost of $12,000/-. This was hardly adequate. In 1902 operations began for another two-storey
building (Block No. 3), containing a laboratory, three classrooms and a gymnasium. The building
was ready for use in 1903. In 1909 Block No. 4 was constructed, consisting of three classrooms
on the ground floor and a large hall on the top floor. In 1921 further expansion took place when
a temporary building with three classrooms was erected. In 1926, another one-storey building came
up to relieve the pressure. The need for periodic expansion of the School building, and the
growing shortage of space was one of the reasons which eventually led to the removal of the
school to the beautiful building on Petaling Hill in 1929.
Financially, the School was on a sound basis, being heavily subsidized by the Government. In
1904, the School was granted $8,400/- per annum to reorganise itself. This grant, however,
lapsed after 1908. In 1914, the Government undertook an annual payment of $30,000/- to the
school. Consequently, the Victoria Institution became one of the best staffed and equipped
schools in Malaya. In 1907, a Government estimate revealed that the Government spent $13/-
more per pupil in the Victoria Institution than in the next school on the list. The average cost
per pupil in that year was $79.87, of which $64.38 was met by the Government.
Shaw's efforts to achieve sound academic results met with favourable response. As early as 1902,
the Victoria Institution obtained easily the most passes in the Cambridge local Examinations both
in the Federated Malay States and the Straits Settlements. 19 of the 79 passes in that year were
from the Victoria Institution: Chan Sze Pong, a pupil of the Victoria Institution had the unique
distinction of winning the first Queen's Scholarship for the F.M.S. His equally illustrious
brother, Chan Sze Jin won the second Queen's Scholarship.
In March, 1922, Shaw retired after 28 years of devoted service as Headmaster of the Victoria
Institution. As a pioneer educationist, Shaw had done as much, if not more than any other for
the cause of education in Malaya. But Shaw will be best known and remembered for what he did
for the Victoria Institution. Although a strict disciplinarian, he assumed a sympathetic
attitude towards student problems. He commanded the respect and admiration of all those who
worked with him. Among his pupils, he was always popular. Shaw left a rich heritage in the
Victoria Institution, which time will serve to consecrate and preserve.
Shaw's successor was R. J. H. Sidney, who in many ways put the finishing touches to the work of
his predecessor. In short, Sidney carried through the process of modernizing the School, and the
changes he effected are apparent even to this day.
Among his earliest reforms was the School Tuck Shop. Hitherto, food and drinks had been served
in "shady cloisters" by hawkers. Sidney cleared the hawkers and appointed two teachers and some
boys to run the Tuck Shop. Besides being a sound hygienic measure, it also proved to be a sound
financial proposition. The handsome profits that accrued from the Tuck Shop went into the School
funds.
But Sidney is best remembered in the Victoria Institution for the inauguration of the Prefect
System in April, 1923. In the first Prefects Charter, it read "On the bearing of the Prefects
depends the tone of the School", and these words symbolised the role of the Prefects in the
Victoria Institution. In instituting the Prefect System, Sidney hoped to make the Victoria
Institution equal to the best Public Schools in England. The Victoria Institution Prefects
since 1923 have been a responsible and privileged group, and they have built around the Prefects
Board an aura of prestige and efficiency.
Sidney was also a keen drama enthusiast, and in his effort to promote drama in the School, he
reorganised the Victoria Institution Musical and Dramatic Society, better known as the
V.I.M.A.D.S. Soon the Society was staging Shakespearian and other plays, with marked success.
Sidney also took the troupe on tours northwards as far as Bangkok, and southwards to Singapore
and the V.I.M.A.D.S. soon established a great reputation in all these places. The first issue of
the School Magazine, The Victorian appeared in April, 1923, and this was another
innovation for which Sidney was responsible. The Victorian was to be "a mirror in which
every activity may be viewed." In its early issues, The Victorian interviewed a number of
prominent people, and it soon established itself as one of the leading school magazines in
Malaya.
Sidney endeavoured to make the parents take an active interest in what was taking place in the
School. As Shaw had done before him, Sidney realized that parents should take an active interest
in the welfare of their students, as it was one means of attaining good results, and also helped
in maintaining discipline among the boys. To promote the link between the parents and the School,
Sidney organised the Parents and Guardians Association. Another of his innovations was the School
Conversazione, which showed the parents as well as the public on a small scale the many-sided
activities and aims of the School.
There are two other developments with which Sidney had a hand: both these developments were of
tremendous importance in the history of the school. The first development was the abolition of
the quasi-government status of the School on September 1st, 1925. Sidney in his enthusiasm to
make the Victoria Institution a Public School, had paid only lip service to the Education
Authorities in the State. He wanted the School to be completely independent, and consequently
come to clash with the Education Authorities. Moreover, his relations with the Trustees left
much to be desired. These causes probably precipitated the take-over of the School by the
Government.
The second development in which Sidney had a hand was the transfer of the School building from
High Street to Petaling Hill in 1929. Although the conception of a new Victoria Institution was
not his (it was suggested as early as 1918) Sidney by his constant agitation probably hastened
the building of the new School. The new School was in step with his overall plan to modernize
the Victoria Institution. Although he did not stay to see the new School opened in 1929, he had
nevertheless the satisfaction of seeing his efforts brought to fruition when operations for the
new building commenced in 1925.
Sidney's period of headmastership was brief, in comparison to that of his predecessor; it ended
in February, 1926, only after a period of three years. But in this short period, Sidney achieved
what normally would have taken a decade or even a generation. He saw the need to sweep away some
old institutions, and he swept them away paying little respect to tradition. The new institutions
which he helped to introduce made the Victoria Institution the leading school in Malaya.
The Victoria Institution had witnessed various developments during its first three decades of
existence as a grant-in-aid school. It had enjoyed a measure of independence, which had a great
influence in the moulding of the School. In various aspects of school education, the Victoria
Institution was the pioneer, the Victoria Institution Cadet Corps being one notable example.
The Victoria Institution was fortunate in having Shaw and Sidney as its first two Headmasters,
for it was their foresight and initiative that made the Victoria Institution the premier school
in Malaya.
When the Victoria Institution became a government institution, it entered yet another era in its
eventful history.
CHAPTER 3
THE VICTORIA INSTITUTION BECOMES A GOVERNMENT SCHOOL
he period 1925-1929 was a turning point in the history of the school, for it witnessed two
events which were of tremendous importance to the Victoria Institution. The first event was the
take-over of the School by the Government in September, 1925; the other event was the transfer
of the school from the site in High Street to Petaling Hill in 1929. A study of the causes and
results of these two important events is important for the understanding of the history of the
School.
It is difficult to ascertain, owing to the lack of documentary evidence, why the Government
abolished the quasi-independent status of the School. Probably, it was an attempt to get a
greater degree of control in the running of the school. Sidney's headmastership revealed the
danger of a school following an independent course, in defiance of government policy. Moreover,
the 1920's witnessed a great deal of unrest in many of the independent schools in the country,
especially in Chinese schools. The Government was anxious that this unrest should not spread to
English schools as well, and in an attempt to anticipate any trouble, the Government probably
decided to take under its wing all the grant-in-aid English schools.
In a way the take-over of the School was expected, if not welcome to the School. In January,
1920, following a report by a committee which was set up to inquire into the working of aided
schools, Government assumed financial control over the Victoria Institution and the other aided
schools. Under the new fiscal arrangements, the aided schools credited their income to the
Government which in turn undertook to pay the salaries for the teachers. Victorians welcomed the
take over, as it offered a better possibility of the Victoria Institution getting a new building.
The take-over of the Victoria Institution by the Government was deplored in certain quarters, but
opinion, on the whole was in favour of this measure. But as far as the School was concerned,
the Government's action had a detrimental effect. Prior to Government take-over the Victoria
Institution staff was mostly the choice of the Headmasters, and usually, those chosen especially
the Asian staff, were old boys of the School. Consequently, the staff was able to instil into
their pupils something of the Victoria Institution tradition and heritage. But this was all
changed after September, 1925. There was a lot of shuffling around of the Victoria Institution
staff, and as a result a number of the new members were not old Victorians, and consequently,
they imparted little of the Victoria Institution spirit to their pupils. Also, after 1925, the
Headmasters of the Victoria Institution were transferred after a brief period to elsewhere in
the country. Hence, they had little time to study the educational and other needs of the School.
However, these disadvantages tended to be balanced out by the benefits accrued by the school as
a result of the take-over.
The causes of the transfer of the Victoria Institution to the new building on Hill are manifold.
Firstly, the old school in High Street was inadequate to meet the increased admissions. Periodic
extensions of the School building had proved to be only a temporary remedy, while spatial
difficulties soon limited the scope for further expansion. Moreover, the building was "dangerous"
in some places, and on a number of occasions there were near bad accidents. Inspection by the
health authorities in 1918 revealed that the School was excessively overcrowded. Secondly,
owing to the proximity of the School to the Klang River it was occasionally flooded and some of
the floods assumed serious proportions. The most serious floods occurred in November, 1902,
December, 1910, March, 1917 and October, 1918. In an attempt to prevent School flooding, a scheme
to straighten the Klang River was instituted. But it was soon found that this scheme affected
the School playground, and consequently it was abandoned. Thirdly, the springing up of a number
of workshops close to the School, and the development of the High Street as one of the busy parts
of the town, seriously affected school work. Under such circumstances, it was felt necessary to
shift the School to a less noisy part of the town. Lastly, the Government of Selangor realized
the growing demand for English education, and at the same time the need to separate elementary
and secondary education. The building of a new School would solve both these problems and out of
these variegated factors arose the new Victoria Institution on Petaling Hill.
It is difficult to determine the precise date on which the Government decided on a new site for
the School. But as early as 1918, plans were already drawn up for the new School, and contracts
for its construction were let. The new site was near Batu Road, where the Government had set
aside about twenty-three acres for the proposed new building. It was expected to accommodate
about 1,000 boys, but the site was condemned by the Town Planner. The abandoning of this site
caused a great deal of delay. For before plans for a new site had matured, Malaya had become
the victim of the rubber slump in 1921. The sharp drop in the price of rubber, caused a
curtailment in Government expenditure, and hence, many new schemes were shelved, if not abandoned.
And so the Victoria Institution had to wait for better days to get its new building.
When Malaya recovered from the slump, plans for the construction of the new building at last got
under way. A new site was found on Petaling Hill, and operations commenced in 1925. The
foundation stone for the new school was laid by H. H. Sultan of Selangor on 21st September, 1927.
It was no mere coincidence that the same Sultan was one of the first twelve Trustees of the
School, appointed in 1893. On 26th March, 1929, the School was formally opened in the new
building by the High Commissioner Sir Hugh Clifford. This beautiful building, in many ways,
justified the eminent place Victoria Institution occupied among the schools in Malaya.
With the change of site, there was also a change in the status of the School. In the past, the
Victoria Institution had catered for both primary and secondary students, and classes had
ranged from Primary to School Certificate. In the new building, the Victoria Institution became
a purely secondary school, catering for students from Standard V and above. And so the Victoria
Institution became the first secondary school in Malaya. The change of site also provided the
School with various new facilities. One whole wing of the new building was designed for the
study of Science. The Victoria Institution had now up-to-date laboratories fully equipped to
begin a school course in Science. In 1930 F. Daniel was appointed to the Victoria Institution as
its first Science master. It was under his initiative that a course in General Science was
evolved as part of the School curriculum. The course he designed was later to be adopted not
only in Malaya, but in Africa, Australia and the West Indies as well. In Science, as in many
other fields of school education, the Victoria Institution had blazed a trail for others to follow.
The site also provided spacious fields to play games and to carry on the other extra curricular
activities, so essential for school life. The cricket pitch that came to be laid out in the
Victoria Institution earned the reputation of being one of the best in the country. In June,
1938, an up-to-date Swimming Pool, with spring boards, steps for high diving and shower baths
was erected. Instead of having to look elsewhere for a swimming pool, the Victoria Institution
now had facilities to hold its own swimming meet and carnivals. The Victoria Institution is
still one of the few, if not the only school in Malaya, to have a swimming pool of its own.
G. C. Davies succeeded Sidney as Headmaster, and was in office between 1926 and 1930. He was a
strict disciplinarian, indeed good discipline has always been one of the hall marks of the
Victoria Institution. Like all Headmasters ever since the time of Shaw, Davies was also a keen
enthusiast of games, and encouraged both school and Inter-House games. He was also a great
promoter of School Old Boys link. When he left the Victoria Institution he assumed the
principalship of Raffles Institution.
F. L. Shaw succeeded Davies, and he endeavoured to elevate the School to greater heights. It is
said that he brought grace and dignity to his high office. It was during his term that the
School began to achieve a reputation throughout the country. Both in studies and in games, the
Victoria Institution excelled itself. In July 1936, Shaw left the School after six years of
devoted service. J. B. Neilson acted as Headmaster until June 1937 when C. E. Gates assumed
office.
The outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 had an immediate effect on the School. In 1940-41,
the School grounds became the temporary barracks of the Military. At the same time, the War
Taxation Department and other offices were transferred to the School Hall. But the School went
on despite these preparations, and C. E. Gates stuck on to his job, even after the Pacific War
had spread to Malayan shores. In January, 1942 Kuala Lumpur was occupied by the Japanese. During
the Japanese occupation, the School was practically closed, though N. S. Buck was made the
Headmaster.
War found the Victoria Institution a fully equipped School, but when it was over, the Victoria
Institution was little more than an empty shell. In the course of the War, books, laboratory
apparatus, shields and other equipment were lost or destroyed. The war left a serious gap in
the Victoria Institution's resources, and it took many years before the loss was replaced.
Both teachers and Old Victorians distinguished themselves in action. Those of the Victoria
Institution staff who died were G. Burgess, E. Cobb, H D. Grundy, E. W. Reeve, A. C. Strahan,
G. C. Tacchi and T. L. White. In 1949, Sir Anthony Eden unveiled the School War Memorial, where
the names of these teachers were boldly engraved. It is not possible here to record the various
ways in which other Victorians distinguished themselves in fighting Japanese imperialism.
The dropping of the Atom Bomb on Japanese soil signalled the end of Japanese Occupation in
Malaya. And the Victoria Institution Hall became the scene for the historic signing of the
Japanese surrender on 13th October, 1945. The period of Japanese Occupation was over, but it left
in its wake, various problems.
CHAPTER 4
THE POST-WAR PERIOD
hen the War ended in September 1945, the School came under the temporary occupation of Malaya
Command. However, the Victoria Institution began its sessions in October 1945, making use of
Batu Road School in the afternoon. In April 1946, the School shifted to the defunct Maxwell
School. And it was not until September, 1946, that the Victoria Institution was able to return
to its own building, following the evacuation by Malaya Command. Needless to say, the Victoria
Institution presented a sorry sight, in comparison to what it had been prior to the outbreak of
the War.
The problem was one of reconstruction and rehabilitation. No time was wasted before work was
begun to bring the School back to normal. M. Vallipuram, who acted as Headmaster between October
1945 and September 1946 set the pace for a quick recovery. But the brunt of the work was left to
F. Daniel, who was appointed as the new Headmaster to complete the work, and he did it
competently and efficiently.
For over a year, the School's extra curricular activities were badly affected. The playground
was in a bad state, although a quick start was made in Football, Cricket and Hockey. But it was
the societies that were most severely affected. And no meetings were held for quite sometime.
Meanwhile, the Victoria Institution Cadet Corps and the Scout Movement lay dormant. The War had
seriously hampered the revival of all these activities.
F. Daniel had a passion for discipline, precision and organisation. His major preoccupation was
to allow the School to settle down, while at the same time, to carry through the process of
reconstruction in rapid stages. His attention was first directed towards the Science Wing,
which was almost a dead shell. With the help of all the Science staff and the laboratory
assistants, Daniel redesigned the Science Wing as thought fit. New equipment was directly
ordered from England, and before the end of 1946, the Science Wing was re-opened. Since then,
it has been the policy of the School to add new apparatus and today it is easily the best
equipped school in the Peninsula.
The School library was similarly ransacked during the War. Daniel took a keen interest in trying
to revive it. The first problem was to find a place to accommodate a library. Daniel found an
ideal place beneath the Science Wing, which was peaceful and spacious. Having got the shelves
to accommodate about 10,000 books, and a seating capacity of about 80 boys, he called for
donations to purchase books from the Old Victorians and the public. The boys of the School also
contributed their share, and they also helped in the classification and issuing of books. The
library was also found to be an ideal place to be the school sanctuary where all school trophies
and Honours Boards could be housed. Daniel felt that the library would be the most suitable
place for the erection of the School War Memorial. On the 17th March 1949, Sir Anthony Eden
formally opened the new library and also unveiled the School War Memorial. It was in many ways a
historic occasion for the School. As Daniel said, the most encouraging thing about the new
library was that "it was our own creation." The School carpenter, Loh Wing, whose service for
the school dates back to 1930, had a big hand in the designing of the Library.
Another innovation with which Daniel had a hand was in the formal opening of the Refectory on
3rd February, 1949. It was previously used as the School Tuck Shop, but now, it was converted to
other uses as well. Meetings of societies and broadcast lessons were held there.
The School's Golden Jubilee celebrations was also affected by the War. It was to have been
celebrated in 1943, but the War caused a postponement. On 12th October, 1946 the Golden Jubilee
was celebrated by the School.
Daniel is better known as a Science Master, being the man who designed a course in General
Science for Malayans. But the School should remember him as the man who put the Victoria
Institution on its feet following the depredations of Second World War. When he left in May 1949,
the Victoria Institution had equalled if not surpassed the splendour of its pre-War days.
The successor to Daniel was E. M. F. Payne, who was Headmaster of the School from May 1949 to
April 1952, and later became Director of Education. In 1937, and 1938 Payne had served in the
Victoria Institution as a Science Master for about 1 1/2 years. Payne continued the good work of
Daniel, expanding the facilities of the School to meet new needs. It was during his
headmastership that the Post Certificate Class, or Form Six, was introduced into the Victoria
Institution to cater for students seeking entry into the University of Malaya. Students, prior
to entry into the University, had now to spend about 5 terms in the Post Certificate class. In
1950 the Victoria Institution had only one Sixth Form Class in Science. In later years, Arts
classes were also begun. The inability of other schools to provide facilities for Form Six work
saw the admission of boys and girls from other schools in Selangor. In 1950, the first girl
student was admitted to the Victoria Institution and since then the composition of the School
has been supplemented by a steady stream of girls entering the Sixth Form at the Victoria
Institution.
Payne left the School in April 1952, when he was appointed Acting Director of Education. Godman
acted until J. N. Davis assumed office in July 1952. His stay in the Victoria Institution was a
short one, for in April, 1953 he was transferred to Penang. G. P. Dartford became the new
Headmaster in April, 1953. A number of changes took place in the School in 1953. The Prefects
adopted a new uniform, while the boys were to be in all white.
Dartford was responsible for some important innovations. Prefects were henceforth to be elected
by pupils from Form Four and above. Through this means it was hoped to make the students
responsible for the election of their own leaders. It was also hoped that the Victoria
Institution would contribute in a small way to teach its students some fundamentals in
democratic practice. However this innovation did not last for long, and was soon abandoned.
Dartford also set up a Student Representative Committee under the Chairmanship of the School
Captain. By this measure, it was hoped to canalize school opinion through proper channels. It
was also another step in the introduction of democratic practice in the School. The Committee
was however dissolved in May, 1956.
Dartford, a historian (author of A Short History of Malaya) tried to promote the study of
history in the School. The Historical Society was revived, as a means of encouraging historical
discussion among the pupils. On the occasion of the Victoria Institution Diamond Jubilee,
Dartford compiled a short history of the School, which appeared in The Victorian, 1954.
At the some time, he encouraged the production of a newspaper of 1894, and the Selangor Echo
was the result.
Early in 1953, the Victoria Institution Cadet Corps was revived after a lapse of over 12 years,
with H. M. de Souza as Officer Commanding. It is rather a surprise that the Victoria Institution
Cadet Corps which had achieved such a fine reputation prior to 1941, should have been left
dormant for such a long time. However, once revived, the Cadet Corps recaptured a lot of its old
popularity. At the beginning of 1954, a School Flight of Air Training Corps was also formed, with
T. Navaratnam as Officer Commanding.
On 30th July, 1954, the School celebrated its Diamond Jubilee. A Speech Day was organised, which
included among other things Prize Giving and an Exhibition. The day was also notable for the
laying of the foundation stone of the new Victoria Institution Old Boys' Association Clubhouse,
by the Sultan of Selangor: yet another occasion when the ruling house of Selangor had displayed
an interest in the developments of the School. Needless to say, this connection between the
School and the ruling house goes back to 1893 when the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Samad donated
$1,100/- towards the Victoria Institution building fund.
Dartford left on long leave to England in May 1954, and A. Atkinson acted as Headmaster. He was
only in the Victoria Institution for a short time, and he was succeeded by P. Roberts, who also
acted for a short time and in his turn left at the end of 1955. Dr. G. E. D. Lewis succeeded
Roberts in November 1955; and except for a short period in 1958, when he went home on leave, he
has remained the Headmaster of the School.
Dr. Lewis undertook a series of innovations which have now become an integral part of school life.
In 1956, he revived Speech Day as a regular annual event as well as the Cross Country Run, which
had been allowed to lapse after the War. In this annual event, every student is expected to take
part, unless medically unfit, and everyone who completes the course within a given time, wins a
point for his House. Dr. Lewis also made a change in the Inter-House Competition for the various
games. Previously, each House normally fielded only one team, or sometimes two. But since 1956,
each House has fielded three teams for most of the out-door games. This has given an opportunity
for the younger students of the School to compete in the games played in the School. Through this
means, a greater number of boys were able to play games than ever before. In 1956 Dr. Lewis also
reorganised the School societies. Previously, a student was expected to shoulder both the
Presidency and the Chairmanship of a society, and this led to a great deal of chaos especially
during 1956. In the reorganisation of the societies, the advisory teachers took over the function
of Vice-President, allowing a student to be the Chairman. To a large extent, this change rescued
many societies from the chaos into which they were sinking, and today the societies are both
active and flourishing.
Probably, the greatest post-war development in the Victoria Institution were the Sixth Forms,
which were begun in 1950, and today one-fifth of the students of the school are Sixth Formers.
Until very recently, the Victoria Institution lacked the facilities to cater for Sixth Form
students: there were no separate classrooms or laboratories for them; neither was there a good
library. Clearly, there was a great need for some changes in the School, which will allow it to
accommodate the Sixth Formers. No one better realized the needs of the Sixth Formers than
Dr. Lewis, and it was his efforts that led to a series of remarkable developments after 1956.
In 1956, a scheme was approved for the construction of a separate Sixth Form Block and Animal
House, next to the Science Wing. Operations were soon begun and in 1957 they were ready for use.
The Sixth Form Block consists of four classrooms and a lecture theatre on the first floor, while
the ground floor consists of three spacious laboratories. The new block was built at a cost of
nearly $250,000/-.
There was also a pressing need for a School Hostel. As many of the Victoria Institution Sixth
Formers came from Pahang, Trengganu and Kelantan, they needed accommodation that would be both
economical as well as close to the School grounds. The scheme for a hostel to be built within
Victoria Institution grounds was approved, and building was completed by the second term of 1957.
The old Library was found to be clearly inadequate to meet the needs of the Sixth Formers. In
1957, the task of re-designing, re-stocking and air-conditioning of the library began and it was
completed before the year was over. The expenses were met by Federal, State and School funds,
the School contributing about $8,000/- out of a total cost of $26,000/-. And so the Victoria
Institution Library became the first school library to be air-conditioned in Malaya.
These recent developments have adjusted School facilities to the new demands of the Sixth Form.
A new Sixth Form Block, a School Hostel and an air-conditioned library will doubtless provide
the Sixth Form with all their wants. Dr. Lewis had a big hand in all these developments, and to
stimulate further the Sixth Formers, he has founded a prize to be won by the student with the
best results in the Higher School Certificate Examination.
Other developments also swiftly followed in 1958, for in this year a new School Canteen complete
with kitchens for Muslim and non-Muslim food was built, while Loh Wing's carpenter's shop was
moved from the road-side to its present site so as to make room for the new canteen. In 1960 a
new air-conditioned Reading Room was built, while in January, 1962 a new lavatory block and an
extension to the school air-conditioned library were completed.
Recent political changes in Malaya have also effected a change in the running of the School. When
Malaya achieved independence, and became a fully fledged democratic country, it was also decided
to democratise the management of the School, so as to give the residents of Kuala Lumpur some
responsibility in the education of their children. According to the terms of the Education
Ordinance of 1957, Boards of Governors were to be set up in all Schools. In the Victoria
Institution three members of the Board were to be nominated by the Ministry of Education, two by
State government, three by the President of the Victoria Institution Old Boys' Association and
three by the parents of the pupils. Both the Government and the public were amply represented in
the new Board, and it in many ways resembled the Board of Trustees, on whom was entrusted the
management of the School when it was quasi-independent.
CHAPTER 5
THE VICTORIA INSTITUTION OLD BOYS' ASSOCIATION 1922 - 1960
he history of the School would be incomplete without some knowledge of the history of our
distinguished Old Boys. Needless to say, they have distinguished themselves in all walks of
life, and as a body, working in unison and towards certain well defined aims, they have made a
valuable contribution to this country.
The need for some sort of an organisation was keenly felt among some of the early Old Victorians,
but it took well over a generation since the school's foundation to establish the Victoria
Institution Old Boys' Association. In 1922, a meeting was convened of all the Old Victorians in
the School Hail. At this meeting, it was unanimously agreed to the formation of the Victoria
Institution Old Boys' Association for certain well defined objectives:
Firstly, to promote and encourage physical advancement of the members of the Association by
providing such games as football, cricket, tennis, etc.,
secondly, to provide the members with a Reading Room for the development of social, intellectual
and moral qualities amongst its members;
and lastly, to render the School such assistance as may be deemed necessary to maintain and
enhance its reputation.
The Association chose Mr. Chan Sze Kiong as its first President, while B. E. Shaw was made its
first Patron. An analysis of the objectives of the Association reveals that Shaw's lessons on
physical and moral education had been well learnt and appreciated.
However, the Victoria Institution Old Boys' Association was at once confronted with the problem
of a clubhouse. Fortunately, for the Association, Towkay Yap Futt Yew was generous enough to
allow the members of the Association to occupy a spacious building at No. 17 Rodger Street,
rent-free as from January, 1924. The formal opening of the Club premises was performed by
Towkay Yap Futt Yew, who took the occasion to present a new billiard table to the Association.
One of the underlying objectives in founding the Victoria Institution Old Boys' Association was
to render the School such assistance, as it might need. It was decided that funds should be
collected to assist poor and deserving boys to continue their education in the Victoria
Institution. With this aim in view, Towkay Yap Futt Yew staged a Chinese play in October 1923,
in aid of the fund. Two other plays were produced in the same month, the proceeds going to the
Scholarship Fund. About $6,000/- was collected in all, and it was decided to call it the Shaw
Scholarship Fund, in appreciation of the first Headmaster of the School, who had retired the
previous year after 28 years of service.
In August 1923, was held the first Reunion Dinner, an event which was instituted primarily to
afford an opportunity for Old Victorians to meet occasionally. On these occasions, the
Headmaster and other prominent members of the School Staff were invited as guests of honour. The
Reunion Dinner became one of the annual functions of the Old Boys' Association.
One of the aims of the Victoria Institution Old Boys' Association was to strengthen the links
between the Old Victorians and the School. In this objective the Headmasters of the Victoria
Institution also played their part. Among those who actively encouraged School-Victoria
Institution Old Boys' Association link were Richard Sidney and G. C. Davies.
The Old Victorians never forgot their first Headmaster, B. E. Shaw. Besides floating a
scholarship in his name, the Old Boys also invited the Grand Old Man to visit Malaya on the
occasion of the opening of the new Victoria Institution on Petaling Hill. Shaw himself was
considerably moved by this invitation, as well as the reception he got from the Old Boys in
Kuala Lumpur.
This was not all. The Association repeatedly pressed the Selangor government to have a School or
road named after B. E. Shaw, in recognition of what he had done for education in the State.
Their efforts did not go unrewarded for in 1936, a road leading to the Victoria Institution was
renamed after Shaw. This will be a proud monument, not only for the services of Shaw, but also
for the efforts of the Old Boys' Association.
Old Victorians had earned a reputation in all walks of life. It is not possible to record here
every instance when an Old Victorian distinguished himself. Mention of a few will indicate to
what extent, the Old Victorians have taken a leading part in Malayan Society.
Probably, the outstanding Old Victorian in the pre-war period was Chan Sze Jin. While in the
Victoria Institution he won practically all the academic awards for which he could compete,
including Treacher Scholarship and the Rodger Medal. In 1903, he won the Federal Scholarship and
went to Cambridge where he excelled himself. In 1910 he was called to the Bar, and then he
returned to Singapore to practise law. Later he become a member of the Legislative and the
Executive Council of the Straits Settlements. He served practically in every public committee,
including the British Malaya Opium Committee. For his services, he was conferred the
Companionship of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in 1941.
In the field of sport, the Victorians also excelled themselves. In cricket, an Old Victorian was
the only Malayan player ever to have won international fame. He was Lall Singh, who represented
India in the Test series against England in 1931-32. Lall Singh earned the reputation of having
been one of the finest fielders of all time. Another Old Victorian who made a name in the field
of sport was C. R. Martin, little known among Victorians today. He was a student of the Victoria
Institution in its early days, and then completed his education in Penang Free School. In cricket,
he was the first to score a double century, and kept wicket for the Federated Malay States. He
represented Singapore in football, at that time being the only Asian in the team. Later, he was
one of the founders of the Association Football League, Singapore. Until recently, he was
intimately connected with the Singapore Football Association, mainly as a coach. He was also a
prominent athlete, and took part in both field and track events. He was a founder member of
Athletic Association of Selangor. He was also a good boxer.
In post-war Malaya, Old Victorians have continued to excel in every field of life. In the
achievement of independence for the country, and the setting up of our own government, the Old
Victorians have played a notable part. Today, the Minister for Health, Mr. Ong Yoke Lin, is an
Old Victorian; in self-governing Singapore, Enche Ahmad, an Old Victorian, is also the Minister
for Health. One could safely predict that the Victorians will play a greater part in the
independent Malaya in time to come.
In 1948, the Old Boys' Association suggested that a day should be set aside as an Old Boys' Day,
and it was decided to make November 21st 1948 as the first Old Boys' Day. On this occasion, it
was also suggested that the Old Boys' Association should meet the School in cricket, hockey,
football, badminton, table-tennis and swimming. To maintain and stimulate interest in this
competition, it was suggested by the Old Victorians that Mr. Daniel the Headmaster should donate
a trophy in his name. The idea was accepted, and in 1948 the Victoria Institution Old Boys'
Association became the first holders of the Daniel Trophy. Since then, Old Boys'
Association-School games have become a regular feature of School life. It would arouse even
greater interest if one week was set aside, during which games, debates and other functions
could make a re-union of Old Boys' Association-School even more complete.
The idea of a new clubhouse, with greater facilities, suggested itself as soon as the War was
over. In 1948, the working committee of the Old Boys' Association decided to launch a drive to
increase membership, as a means to bring the scheme to fruition. A Building Fund was soon started,
and the Old Boys were called upon to donate generously. In 1954, the Building Fund stood at
$21,400/-, and it was decided to start construction of the first stage of building. The State
government granted a site near the entrance of the School, and the foundation stone was laid on
the 30th July, 1954. The first stage was expected to cost about $18,000/- and it was completed
by the end of 1954. The second stage was estimated to cost another $13,000/- and as funds were
not adequate, a drive was made for more funds. The present boys also collected money for the
Clubhouse.
In 1956, Old Victorians in Singapore endeavoured to play their part in making the Old Boys'
Association a force in the country. Early in that year, a Singapore Branch of the Victoria
Institution Old Boys' Association was formed, following a meeting of about 100 Old Victorians at
the Union House in the University of Malaya. In August, 1956, the Old Victorians from Singapore
brought a cricket and hockey team to play the Selangor Old Boys and the present boys. It was
successful and an enjoyable visit, and was repeated in 1961.
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