SPEECH BY THE CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW FOR THE MBS NEW BUILDING FUND & COMMEMORATIVE BOOK LAUNCHING CEREMONY

 

16 September 2022
Methodist Boys’ School

 

Yang Bhg Dato’ Khoo Cheok Sin
Chairman of the Board of Governors, Methodist Boys’ School

Yang Berusaha Encik Saravanan a/l Dharmalingam
Chairman of the Parents & Teachers Association (PTA) of Methodist Boys’ School

Dato-dato and Datin-datin

 

Members of the MBS Board of Governors

 

Members of the school PTA

 

Ladies & Gentlemen

Good afternoon to all of you.

I would like to congratulate the Board of Governors of MBS for successfully organizing this event as we are still adjusting to the new norm in the post-Covid era.   

Today’s function projects the success of the Board of Governors of Methodist Boy’s School in achieving another milestone to come together for the betterment of the school.

As we celebrate Malaysia Day today, this function is very symbolic in some ways.  Malaysia Day was established to commemorate the Federation of Malaysia. At the time, it involved a few territories, namely Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore (which later left) with the sole aim to form a single identity Malaysia. Similarly, this function reflects the coming together of individuals with the same goal. To raise funds for your beloved school, MBS.

The theme of this year’s Independence Day is “Keluarga Malaysia, Teguh Bersama”. This translates to “The Malaysian Family Strong Together.  This evening’s programme resonates this theme. All of you come from different background, whether social or religious, and yet all of you have come together today to celebrate one thing, the love for your dear school.

The values and teachings instilled by this great institution is the reason for today’s gathering.

MBS is the binding factor which makes all of you here stay strong together.  MBS has produced individuals who are great in their own paths. Yet, your diversity has positively united everyone.  This harmony is a true Malaysia value.

The message to spread love and understanding is more important than ever in our day and time. We should celebrate how special and different we are.  It is this diversity which is the root of our unity.

I hope that this value will be passed on to the younger generation to become part of their identity. What they learn in school is very important because they will bring this out into the society.  This morning I was at St. Xavier’s Institution for its annual SXI Run Charity Drive for fund-raising. Many former Xaverians were present to help their alma mater as a means of giving back to their school. I see the same here for the old students of MBS.

This is the community spirit that we are looking for in our schools and I am very glad that you are all taking the lead in showing the way. These values and the belief of unity in diversity are the strength and success of any nation. 

I wish everyone here the best to carry on the torch of the MBS spirit and stay strong together like a family. 

LovePenanglike how you Love MBS.

Thank you.