Penang Free School

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Penang Free School
Established	(1816-10-21) October 21, 1816 (age 195)
Type	Public
Principal	Jalil Bin Saad
Students	1,800
Location	Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia
Campus	Suburb
Colors	White , azure
Website	www.pfs.edu.my

Penang Free School is a secondary school located on Jalan Masjid Negeri (previously Green Lane), George Town, Penang, Malaysia. Although the medium of instruction is now Malay, 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 recognised as one of Penang's premier schools and alumni are known as "Old Frees". There is a history of rivalry with St. Xavier's Institution, another of Penang's premier schools.

History

The school was founded by Rev. Sparke Hutchings on 21 October 1816, on the island of Penang, Malaya. Its first headmaster was Mr. James Cox 1816-1821. Its original premises on Farquhar Street first housed the Hutchings School, but is now the Penang State Museum. In 1928, the school moved to its current location on Jalan Masjid Negeri (also known as Green Lane). The school hosted the very first communist cell ever to penetrate a Malayan school. Several of the schoolmasters were socialist in outlook and encouraged the formation of the cell which went on to produce a cadre of communist leaders who went on to make their careers in China. The communist cell was suppressed in the late 1930s.

The school received cluster school status from the Malaysian Ministry of Education in 2007.

Excerpts of the original charter: "That it will be the first object of the Institution to provide for the Education of such children as would be otherwise, brought up in idleness and consequent vice, and without any means of obtaining instruction either in useful learning or in any manual employment, and to implant in them in the early habits of industry, order and a good conduct." -—from "The Original Plan of the Establishment of Prince of Wales Island, Free School, 1816".

Blazonry

School motto

The motto of the school is Fortis Atque Fidelis which is Latin for Strong and Faithful .

School Crest

The background colour of the crest is sky blue (azure), which is the school's colour.

Armorial bearings:

• Middle chief: A white tower: signifies the qualities of strength and truthfulness.
• Dexter chief: Numeral 18: the first two digits of the year the school was founded (1816).
• Sinister chief: Numeral 16: The last two digits of the year the school was founded (1816).
• Dexter base: Palm tree: represents the State of Penang, also signifies the fertility of the mind.
• Sinister base: A gold lion rampant supporting a flag: signifies the preservation of the tradition and high ideals of the school.

• 

  Road Pathway in Penang Free School

School anthem

Chorus

Verses

The school anthem is played at the end of official assembly and on occasions such as Old Frees gathering. Music and lyrics written by G.S. Reutens, a former teacher, circa 1960s.

Cricket team

Penang Free School is known for its achievements in cricket. They have players who have played for Malaysia and internationally.^{[citation needed]}

Headmasters

Headmasters since 1816 : [1][2][3]

Board Of Prefects

The Board of Prefects was established in 1865. It is the oldest Board of Prefects in South East Asia. Prefectship is the highest position of trust the school bestows upon a student. Prefects are selected based on their contributions to the school, personality, character, leadership qualities and academic consistency. This board supplements the tasks of the School Administration under the leadership of the School Captain and his deputy. Among the duties bestowed on a prefect are overseeing the smooth running of the School Assembly and disciplining those who break the school rules. The board maintains school discipline and acts as a liaison body between the School Administration and the students. About 18 prefects are selected each year out of a population of 1600 students.

The School Captain accompanies the Principal to the hall during assemblies. The Deputy School Captain calls the school to attention. Complete silence ensues as the Principal enters the hall. After the assembly, prefects conduct spot-checks on students.

Activities

Every year, the School Captain, Deputy School Captain, Permanent and Temporary Prefects are installed in front of the entire school population during assembly.

All current prefects must attend the annual prefects' dinner. Here, the new temporary prefects get to mingle with their peers and foster relationships with the senior prefects. This is also the place for them to meet the prefects of yesteryear.

School Captains

The School Captain is the highest position bestowed upon a student. The School Captain generally must serve the Board Of Prefects for two years, before being elected when he returns as a Form 6 Student. His election usually goes through an official meeting between the Principal, the Prefect's Master, the outgoing School Captain and his deputies under the constitution of The Board Of Prefects. Below are the School Captains who have served the school:

Sports Houses

In 2009, headmaster Ramli bin Din created two new sports houses (Tunku Syed Sirajuddin and P. Ramlee), adding to the pre-existing six sport houses. Penang Free School is the only school in Malaysia to have eight sport houses. The sports houses in the school are:

• Hargreaves (brown)
• Hamilton (yellow)
• Pinhorn (blue)
• Wu Lien Teh (green)
• Tunku Putra (warna pariah)
• Cheeseman (the best)
• Tunku Syed Sirajuddin (OK la)
• P. Ramlee (hoay yuen)

• 

  Athlete waving his house, Tunku Putra, flag during the school's Sports Day 2009.

• 

  The band during the school's Sports Day 2009.

• 

  The Frees' Spirit.

Noted alumni

A student pursuing his secondary education in the Free School is commonly known as a Free, once the individual leaves the Free School, he is an Old Free.

• Tunku Abdul Rahman, First Prime Minister of Malaysia.
• Anwar Fazal, influential figure in the worldwide social movement. Father of Malaysian NGO Movement
• Dr. Wu Lien-Teh, plague fighter and pioneer in the modernization of China's public health system.
• Dato' Eddy Choong, former All-England Badminton champion.
• Tengku Tan Sri Ahmad Rithauddeen, President of the United Nations Association of Malaysia (UNAM)
• Chung Thye Siong, son of Kapitan Chung Keng Quee of Penang and Perak and brother of Kapitan Chung Thye Phin, last Kapitan of Perak and Malaya.
• Tan Sri Datuk Seri Dr.Eusoffe Abdoolcader FCJ Former Federal Court Judge of Malaysia
• Wee Chong Jin (Dr), first Chief Justice of Singapore
• Tan Sri Azizan Zainul Abidin, former Petronas corporate figure.
• Tan Sri G. Rama Iyer, Secretary-General of the Primary Industries Ministry and noted civil servant.
• Danny Quah, economist and Head of Department of Economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
• Jomo Kwame Sundaram, Assistant Secretary General for Economic Development in the United Nations’ Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)
• Tan Sri Elyas Omar, first Datuk Bandar of Kuala Lumpur
• Datuk Dr Ismail Merican, Director General of Health
• Dennis Lee, pianist.
• Datuk Syed Zainal Abidin Tahir, Managing Director, Proton Holdings, ms:Syed Zainal Abidin Tahir.
• Datuk Che Khalib Mohamad Noh, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) Group President & CEO , [4].
• Tun Lim Chong Eu, 2nd Chief Minister of Penang
• P Ramlee, film actor, director, singer, songwriter, composer, and producer.
• Schmike Ariff, Activist.
• Steven Rizam, Footballer
• Sugeindhiran Sagotharan, Charity Activist & Entrepreneur
• Muhammad Elias Bin Akbar Ali, Entrepreneur
• Abu Musarrif Bin Abu Bakar, Local Comedian

External links

• Official website
• Alumni website
• 7th Georgetown Scout Group
• 8th Georgetown South Sea Scout Group
• Famous benefactor: Kapitan Chung Keng Quee
• Penang Free School Historical Society