SXI Chapter VI

TheXaverian
Journey

Chapter

VI

Aerial view of SXI in the early 1960s. At this time, the new Library and Arts Lecture Theatre had not yet been built on top
of the science laboratories (far right). As well, Farquhar Street had not yet been realigned. So the Brothers’ quarters on
the right was blocked by a row of double storey terrace houses (right foreground). These houses would be knocked down
in the 1970s and part of the school’s front compound would be lost. These development resulted in a clear and extended
frontage along Farquhar Street, running from Love Lane to Leith Street.

52 The Xaverian Journey

VI

New Challenges
in Post-nep
Malaysia
1970-2000

The geographical expansion of the Lasallian Mission throughout
Malaysia and the increase in numbers of students enrolled in
the 1960s meant not only a need for physical expansion but a critical
need for Lasallian Brothers as well as Lay Teachers imbued with the
Lasallian ethos. As clarified in chapter five, the Mission Authority had
opted to join the National Education System under the impression that
the La Salle schools would become “fully aided schools”. In fact, full
aid was not forthcoming. However, in getting absorbed into the NES,
a loss of autonomy over myriad matters set in gradually. Moreover, the
adoption of amendments to the National Education Act 1971, following
the tragic 13 May 1969 riots, meant transformation towards a system

New Challenges in Post-NEP Malaysia 53

of education with Malay, the national language, as the sole medium of
instruction too. This chapter elaborates on these new challenges and
how they impacted on St Xavier’s.

The Aziz Report,1971: Teachers
become Government Servants

Although the Mission Schools had joined the National Education System
following the implementation of the National Education Act by the early
1960s, they continued to have some measure of autonomy in terms of
hiring and firing their principals and teachers, principally because there
continued to exist a variety of teachers trained under different schemes,
each with a different salary scale, with no opportunity to transfer from
one scheme to another. The introduction of the so-called “Unified
Teaching Service” (UTS) did not encompass all teachers. In fact, the
UTS had not made arrangements for teachers opting for the scheme to
be eligible for pension and free medical treatment, which were offered
to some others in other schemes. Not surprisingly, the teachers in the
Mission Schools, like teachers elsewhere, and led by the National Union
of Teachers, pushed for the conversion of their status to “government
servants” once and for all, which they believed would allow them to
enjoy these additional perks. This resulted in the setting up of the Abdul
Aziz Commission and the resultant Abdul Aziz Report, 1971.

In January 1972, all teachers in Mission Schools were given
the option to remain in their old schemes or to become teachers in
government service, which meant becoming subjected to government
general orders, including being subjected to transfers to other schools,
and being answerable to the Minister of Education. As government
servants, they would, like other civil servants, be entitled to pensions,
medical services, and certain housing benefits. In the event, most
teachers in Mission Schools decided to join the Government Service
which was largely beneficial to them. However, in one fell stroke,
the Mission Schools lost completely the autonomy they possessed
to appoint their own teachers and principals, and subsequently, the
control over admission of students to their schools.

Special arrangements were made for the Mission to appoint La
Salle Brothers as Directors of the schools until an extended retirement
age of 65, a practice that was discontinued from 1999. There was also
an understanding reached between the Mission School authorities
and the Ministry on the provision of “maximum consultation” in the
appointment of lay principals and senior teachers, if and when that
should come to pass. The problem with this provision, which is to be
distinguished from a policy directive, is that only the upper echelon of
the Ministry of Education is aware of this provision and is prepared to
engage in “maximum consultation” with the Mission representatives.
The heads of the Education Department of specific states, let alone the

54 The Xaverian Journey

Education District officers are usually unaware and not empathetic to
such a provision.

The Aziz Report also recommended that the School Boards be
maintained, and so they have, but that their roles be minimised to focus
especially on “general welfare and development of the schools” rather
than on educational or administrative matters (Chew 2016: 277-279,
and Wong and Ee 1975: 127).

Critical Change in
Medium of Instruction

An even more serious challenge for the Mission schools like St Xavier’s
followed in the aftermath of the ethnic riots of 1969 in Kuala Lumpur.
The New Economic Policy (NEP) was introduced, and dramatic changes
occurred in the political system and also in the educational realm.

To promote unity, the Rukun Negara was formulated and widely
promoted. Henceforth, Malay was promoted as the sole medium of
instruction in all schools, except for the vernacular schools which were
converted into national-type primary schools, and allowed to continue
teaching in Chinese and Tamil. These changes had a serious impact
on the Lasallian schools, which were English-medium schools, and
by fiat, had to be transformed into Malay-medium schools gradually.
Subsequently, the single-language policy was applied in the secondary
schools, in teachers’ training colleges and in the universities too. In
1978, the LCE was replaced by the Sijil Rendah Pelajaran (SRP); in
1980 the MCE examination was replaced by the Sijl Pelajaran Malaysia
(SPM); and in 1982, the HSC was replaced by the Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran
Malaysia (STPM). All three, the SRP, SPM and STPM were conducted
in Malay.

Decrease in Numbers of Brothers
and SJTC Graduates

This meant that many Brothers and Lay Teachers had to acquire the
necessary language skills quickly in order to continue in their roles
as teachers. Many older Brothers and Lay Teachers found this very
difficult. Meanwhile, the number of foreign La Salle Brothers who had
previously come from Ireland, England, Canada and Australia began
to decline and the few who did arrive could not easily fit into the new
educational system either.

Coincidentally, a “crisis” of the Brothers’ vocation developed. Many
local Brothers, some of whom had many years of teaching experience,
left the Congregation. They had completed their university education
and were expected to play leading roles in the expanded Mission. Their

New Challenges in Post-NEP Malaysia 55

SXI teachers including six Brothers in
1967. The total number of teachers
in SXI had increased. However,
whereas a large proportion of
teachers in earlier decades comprised
Brothers (see the photographs taken
in mid-1930s [page 12], and in 1948
[page 27]), the vast majority of the
staff in 1967 were Lay Teachers.
By 1999, there would be a single
teaching Brother in SXI (see page 60).

Visit of Minister of Education Mr Khir departure resulted in a vacuum of senior teachers who previously could
Johari to SXI for the Official Opening respond effectively to the challenges posed by dramatic changes to the
of the new Library and Arts Lecture national educational system. To make matters worse, several senior
Theatre. Lay Teachers, including the SJTC graduates who helped to promote
Lasallian values in schools, were also transferred out of our Mission
56 The Xaverian Journey Schools on becoming government servants, after the implementation
of the Aziz Report which allowed for such transfers.

The number of Brothers-in-formation in St Joseph’s Training College
also rapidly declined from some 120 in the mid-1960s, to less than 10 by
the early 1970s. During the period 1970-1980, some 20 young Brothers
departed for various reasons including the reality of drastic changes
in our national education system. Eventually, St Joseph’s was closed in
1975 due to declining recruits of Brothers. The few remaining trainee
Brothers were sent to the government teachers’ training colleges instead.
Earlier in 1968, the Ministry had requested that SJTC stop providing
training for Lay Teachers which it had been doing throughout the 1960s
(Chew 2016: 283).

Taken together, the developments discussed above resulted in a loss
of autonomy, the inability to adjust positively and fast enough to the
new challenges, a drop in the numbers of Brothers, both foreign and
local-born, inability to train its own teachers for Lasallian schools, and
even a loss of identity. Invariably, the Lasallian character and ethos of
the schools the Brothers had estabished came under threat.

Into the Last Decades of
the 20th Century

Fortunately St Xavier’s had three capable Brothers in charge: Brother
Director Charles Levin (1967-79), Brother Director Casimir Hannon
(1980-93), and Brother Principal Paul Ho (1993-2009). They steered the
school through three trying decades and tried to maintain the Lasallian
character of the school against great odds into the 21st century. To a
considerable extent they succeeded in delaying the further erosion of
the school’s spirit and ethos. Many La Salle schools in other parts of the
country were not as fortunate.

The 120thAnniversary of
St Xavier’s

by Brother Director Charles Levin

Today is Parent’s Day, Academic Prize-giving Day, Honours Day. It Br Charles restored the cast-iron
also marks the final event of the year to commemorate the 120th life-size statue of St John Baptist de La
anniversary of St Xavier’s Institution. Salle to its original site in SXI.

The founding fathers of our school would have reason for pride
were they with us today because they would have the opportunity to
witness the fruition of what they initiated and what they intended for
St Xavier’s. If this 120th Anniversary is to be remembered in a very
special way, it will be mainly because of the outstanding achievements
of Xaverians during the current year. Today’s progress report, as it
unfolds itself in the various events of this evening, I hope, will bear
witness to this.

The more outstanding academic success will be remembered as
the list of prize-winners is read out. How happy I am to once more
recall the excellent 1971 Higher School Certificate results in which our
students had the highest percentage passes in both Arts and Science in
Penang.

There is also our “Honours List”, names of students who have been
outstanding in the field of extra-curricular activities, names of those who
have given outstanding service to the school. Who can forget our “first”
in hockey, softball, badminton, fencing, swimming or our contribution
to such public events as Pesta Pulau Pinang, Expo Pendidikan, Visit
of Her Majesty the Queen of England, Combined School Sports,
Hari Kebangsaan, just to mention some. There will be certificates of
appreciation or special mention for those who have done so much to
enhance the good name of the school on these occasions.

Neither must I forget the Fun Fair, the Walkaton, the wonderful
response of students to all appeals to funds to set up a new science
block as a perpetual memorial of this 120th Anniversary and as
an expression of our awareness of the scientific and technological
demands of our present-day school curriculum. If Xaverians have
reason to be loyal to their school, to love their Alma mater, it is
because they have sacrificed so much for it. The school motto, Labor
Omnia Vincit, has really been taken to heart.

Finally, there has been the visit of Rev Bro Superior General of the
Christian Brothers’ Schools throughout the world, a reminder to us of
our very special mission as students of a Brothers’ school – to put into
practice all that is contained in our Rukunegara. Let us excel in this and
thus assure the success of our mission.

Source: The Xaverian 1972

New Challenges in Post-NEP Malaysia 57

Visit of Brother Superior General Brother Director Charles Levin
Charles Henry in 1972.
To accommodate himself to the changing environment, Br Charles began
A new school porch. to study and master the Malay language (and later Mandarin as well).
58 The Xaverian Journey When Civics was introduced for non-Muslim students as a compulsory
subject in schools, he took to preparing Civics textbooks in Malay. In
1972, he led the school in the celebration of its 120th anniversary. That
year, the school also welcomed Brother Charles Henry, the Superior
General of the Christian Brothers’ Schools when he visited SXI.

In 1980, Br Charles was transferred to Taiping where he served as
Brother Director of St George’s Institution. Upon his retirement, he
returned to reside in St Xavier’s where he assumed the role of a non-
teaching Bro Director. He also assumed new roles in landscaping and
caring for the gardens within the school and in archiving the history
of the Lasallian Brothers who served in St Xavier’s and in the Penang
District generally.

One of his proudest achievements was to restore the statue of St John
Baptist de La Salle to its original site in front of St Xavier’s. This majestic
cast-iron life-size statue, a replica of which is found in practically all
La Salle educational institutions throughout the world, had been cast
approximately in 1900 in France. It was moved to Pulau Tikus after
the destruction of the original St Xavier’s during the War. Thanks to
Br Charles, it was moved back to Farquhar Street, on the occasion of
the 150th anniversary of St Xavier’s, celebrated in 2002. Yet another
achievement is a Record of all the Brothers who served in the District of
Penang. This important Record book sits in the St Xavier’s Chapel.

Brother Director Casimir Hannon

Br Casimir next served as Director from 1980-
93 for 14 years. After experiencing many
challenges that had been addressed by Br
Charles, he continued to serve the school and
students in his gentle way and with a firm grip.
His gift for hard work and his rapport with
teachers and parents continued to give SXI its
special identity as a school of excellence and
character formation of youth. A new school
porch was erected and many other facilities
renovated and upgraded during his tenure as
Director. These extensions were perhaps related to the expansion of the
Sixth Form which grew to its largest in terms of numbers of students
during the 1980s and early 1990s. For instance in the mid-1980s, there
were 4 Science and 4 Arts classes for both Upper and Lower 6th Form
and approximately 500 plus 6th Form students in total. In turn, this
growth reflected the increasing desire of Malaysian youths to prepare
for tertiary level education, not just as a passport to a good job, but also
in a search for the Truth.

The Xaverian Charter

by Brother Director Casimir Hannon

The central metaphor that best encapsulates our vision for St Xavier’s is
THE FAMILY.

In keeping with the family atmosphere in which growth can best take place This Xaverian Charter was
the priorities that should be our concern in St Xavier’s are: adopted by St Xavier’s and
• The fostering of good pupil-teacher relationships, characterized by appeared in numerous years of
The Xaverian. It first appeared
mutual love, care and understanding. as a Message by Br Director
• The teachers must challenge their students to realize their full potential. Casimir Hannon in The
• All in positions of leadership must lead by example, their dedication and Xaverian 1988.

well-integrated personalities serving as aspiring models.
• The Board of Governors, PTA, former Pupils and Staff to strive to

provide the best in educational facilities.

If we focus on these priorities, the result will be the development of an
ideal atmosphere in the school. The characteristics of this atmosphere
would be:
• A loving, caring, trusting relationship within different groups of the

school community: the staff (teaching and ancillary), the students, and
between staff and students. Thus awareness of each other will be
promoted, with special care for the poor and handicapped, and the
growth of tolerance and the democratic spirit.
• Care for the spiritual development of all the members, leading them
closer to God through systematic exposure to religious education and
moral values.
• An atmosphere of vibrant, purposeful activity in which students are
challenged to develop intellectually, physically and emotionally, with
special attention being given to growth in leadership qualities, initiative
and creativity.
• An atmosphere quiet enough to allow for serious concentration, while
the buildings and gardens should be clean and beautiful to enhance the
quiet and peaceful spirit of study.

If the above Vision is realised, the young man or young lady leaving St
Xavier’s should have the following qualities:
• God-loving, loyal to King and Country possessing integrity and a good

sense of spiritual and moral values;
• Disciplined and committed;
• Loving, caring, friendly, sociable and service-oriented;
• Committed to life-long growth spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally;
• Possessing a good self-image, initiative, creativity and the ability to think

critically and to act independently.

New Challenges in Post-NEP Malaysia 59

SXI Staff in 1999. On the eve of the new millennium, there remained a single teaching Brother, Br Principal Paul Ho.

Br Paul Ho’s Bakery. Interview with Br Paul Ho
60 The Xaverian Journey on the Occasion of his
Silver Jubilee

Can you enlighten us about your educational background?
My primary school and my secondary school were here and there.
That means it was not only in Malaysia. My primary and secondary
school education were all in Brother schools and my first degree,
my Bachelor of Arts was done in the Brothers’ University, a college
which is part of the University of Manchester. When I did my
Masters Degree in Education, it was also done in the University of
Manchester…..

What is it like to be a Brother?
Life as a Brother can be wonderful, sad and lonely and it can be
anything as long as a person makes use of his religious life to keep
him occupied. It is like any other kind of life. It can be lonely because
if you don’t know how to occupy your time then you have nothing
to do, but if you have a lot to do then it is a wonderful thing; and if
you know that you come to join the Brothers in order to touch the
lives of young people, then it truly is a wonderful thing.

What is the driving force that has kept you as a Brother
for 25 years?
I think the driving force is prayer and God’s inspiration. I could leave
anytime if I decide that I don’t want to become a Brother. If God
tells me I have done enough and there is no need for me to be in the
brotherhood then I will leave the Brothers. But as far as I know, only
God and prayer can help me to hold on to be a Brother….

Brother Paul Ho The roof of the chapel had to be
repaired.
Br Paul, born in Penang, began his service as the last La Salle Brother
Principal of St Xavier’s in 1993. He retired in 2009. His “hands-on
approach” in accompanying the not so academically inclined students
resulted in the setting up of the Baking Department for students in
Forms Four and Five. In his mind, this was an opportunity to help these
students acquire an alternative skill that could aid them for life after St
Xavier’s. This project continues until today.

By the time Br Paul took over the school, the buildings in St Xavier’s
were more than 50 years old and in dire need of repair and upgrading.
The classrooms needed to be repainted while blackboards and notice
boards needed replacements. Staircases, too, had to be repaired. Those
parts of the chapel and the hall which had flat roofing leaked and had

What do you think of the role of the de La Salle Brothers
in Malaysia today, now that many of our schools are being
run by laymen?
The role of the Brothers is still very relevant. But the problem is
there are not many young people joining the Brothers because our
society has changed a lot. Throughout the whole world the story
is the same. We have become very materialistic in our view of life
and we look upon religious life as something old-fashioned. It’s not a
fashionable thing to do. It’s like wasting away one’s life. So in view of
that, the role of the Brothers will definitely diminish more and more
and you may not be able to find many Brothers. It does not mean
that’s the end because even a few Brothers can influence other lay
people to carry on the ideals of St John Baptist de La Salle. They
don’t necessarily have to be a Brother but at least they believe in the
Lasallian education and what it stands for. That is good enough….

What do you think will happen to the Brothers in the next
millennium?
In the next millennium there will be so few Brothers. There will not
be any other Brother Principal after me, that’s for sure. It will be
a lay man because we have not enough Brothers. In other words,
the work of the Brothers will merely be the one who facilitates and
just give out Lasallian idealisms and Lasallian principles in order to
help the next group of headmasters and principals to take over our
Brother schools so that the Lasallian heritage is carried on.

Source: extracted from a longer
Interview with Br Paul Ho in
The Xaverian 1999, pp. 45-46

New Challenges in Post-NEP Malaysia 61

The canteen was extended and to be repaired and made waterproof. A grease trap had to be installed
various new health requirements in the canteen as required by new Municipal Council regulations. The
complied with. old aluminium tabletops needed to be replaced with new stainless
steel ones. The toilet needed upgrading and the porch, too, had to be
The staff room was extended and repaired.
upgraded.
Yet we were not entitled to government funds for repairs and
The weekly school assembly was upgrading. Accordingly, Br Paul launched a campaign to raise RM1.5
moved to the basketball courts in Leith million. As usual, the old boys and parents were most forthcoming.
Street because the Farquhar Street The family of Dato’ Ong Hoo Kim and his son Dato’ Ong Gim Huat
frontage had been reduced in size. donated towards the upgrading of the canteen and the conversion of one
of the classrooms into a bakery. Magnum Corporation donated towards
renovation of the library and the Arts Lecture Theatre while the Phoenix
Press saw to our printing needs (The Xaverian 2002, pp. 3-6).

There was also a “joint-venture” with The Royal London Circus,
apparently owned by a former Lasallian called Mr Paul Lee, who
allocated a show especially for St Xavier’s. The pupils were mobilised to
sell tickets for the show wherein 55% of total sales would be given to the
school. Sales of the tickets totalled RM149,000 and the school received
almost RM94,000. Other donations amounted to RM31,432. “So it…
summed up to RM125,415” for the school (The Xaverian 2001, p. 93).

Later, Br Paul renovated the teachers’ staff room and raised funds for
the School Band which needed new instruments and to repair old ones.
Both concerns were met, thanks to Dato’ Philip Yew and family.

A Heritage Corner recalling the history as well as honourable
achievements of the school was also created in the foyer next to the
Brothers’ Quarters, thanks to a generous donation by Dato’ Kenny Ong
Kean Lee in memory of his father Dato Ong Chin Teik. Despite these
efforts, more money was required. There had been 50 years of neglect
of the physical well-being of St Xavier’s.

These projects aside, Br Paul was especially proud to bring together
the Mission, the teachers, alumni, students and their parents to
celebrate the 150th anniversary of St Xavier’s in 2002, a most grand and
meaningful affair.

Ms Betty Wong was Senior Assistant of Student Affairs in St Xavier’s
where she had studied for her Form Six and taught for 28 years. Drawing
upon her long interaction with the last three Brother Directors/
Principals, she shared these insights:

I remember Br Casimir stressing the importance of trust. If we
trust each other, we would not worry about things not getting
done, people doing unkind and unjust things. There would be no
suspicion and this would make working life so much more cordial.
Only if the trust is broken then we can stop trusting that person.
This is what Br Casimir said about the Honour System….And then
there is Br Charles who believed in fairness and justice. I hope that
his sense of fairness and Br Casimir’s idea of trust and honour will
live on.

62 The Xaverian Journey

Br Paul Ho understood teachers’ problems and helped us embrace
a principal Xaverian ideal, that is, to remember the Last, the
Lost and the Least. Br Paul Ho also conceptualised the idea of:
Touching Hearts and Changing Lives: He was full of kindness. This
is what makes St Xavier’s one-of-a-kind. There are schools, and
then there is St Xavier’s (The Xaverian 2013, p. 106).

Uncle Vincent Michael

It is appropriate to end this section – which discusses the last three Ms Betty Wong studied for her
Brother Directors/Principals – with an appreciation of Uncle Vincent Sixth Form and later taught in SXI
Michael, the Xaverian who has served St Xavier’s for the longest time for 28 years.
ever. In fact, Uncle Vincent can also claim the accolade of having
resided in St Xavier’s for the longest time ever, by anyone – Brother, Lay Uncle Vincent was awarded a PJK
Teacher, staff or student! by the Penang Governor in 2016

Uncle Vincent came under the guardianship of the Brothers in
1941, after a bomb fell on the car and killed his father – who was then
the driver for the priests in the Assumption Church. From then on, he
moved in with the Brothers. Hence he served not only under the last
three Directors, but under Brothers Fintan Blake, Anthony Knoll, Joseph
Brophy, Michael Jacques and Lawrence as well, a total of eight different
Directors! Invariably, he is the repository of the most pertinent and
important information about St Xavier’s past. Many have enjoyed listening
to him reminiscing about the past. Here, we gratefully acknowledge the
importance of Uncle Vincent who provided us with much information,
and shared his insights, for our writing of The Xaverian Journey.

Others might remember him as the laboratory technician, who ran
and organised our science laboratories under various Science masters
beginning from the 1950s through to the 1980s. Indeed, he helped Bro
Damian to set up St Xavier’s make-shift science laboratory in the hostel
garage in 1950. It was only when the new building was completed that
St Xavier’s boasted state-of-the-art new laboratories.

Still others would recall Uncle Vincent as the man who screened
films like Tarzan, Zorro, the series of cowboy and combat action-
packed movies, and Charlie Chaplin silent movies for 20 cents a shot on
Saturdays in Heah Joo Seang Hall. How we packed the Hall in the 1960s!
Sometimes, more recent films would be screened at a higher price for
a good cause. According to Uncle Vincent, they stopped showing films
once television arrived and most families could afford one of these.

Vincent officially retired from his laboratory job in 1989. About that
time he moved from the Leith Street quarters into the Brothers’ Quarters
where he lived alongside Br Charles, Br Paul among others. Although
retired, Uncle Vincent continues to wake up early and never fails to be
in the front desk in the School’s office to conduct his “business” every
morning; for he continues to be in charge of renting out the school field
and School Hall to the public – for weddings or other private functions.
Belatedly, he received a PJK from the Governor of Penang in 2016. Born
in 1932, Uncle Vincent is in his late 80s. But you can still catch a glimpse
of him if you come to visit the school today.

New Challenges in Post-NEP Malaysia 63