49 ACADEMICS Kertas Bil. Calon Lulus Penuh Lulus Sebahagian Gagal Peratus Lulus Penuh Peratus Lulus Sebahagian Peratus Gagal NGMP Tahun 2017 NGMP Tahun 2016 Beza A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D F Pengajian Am 18 0 1 1 4 6 3 1 2 0 0 0 88.89% 11.11% 0.00% 2.63 2.50 0.13 Bahasa Melayu 4 0 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 100.00% 0.00% 0.00% 2.83 2.88 -0.05 Literature in English 4 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 100.00% 0.00% 0.00% 3.17 2.87 0.30 Sejarah 7 0 0 2 3 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 85.71% 14.29% 0.00% 2.81 2.59 0.22 Ekonomi 10 2 0 0 3 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 100.00% 0.00% 0.00% 2.87 2.20 0.66 Pengajian Perniagaan 14 0 1 0 6 4 1 1 0 0 1 0 92.86% 7.14% 0.00% 2.69 2.44 0.26 Perakaunan 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 100.00% 0.00% 0.00% 2.45 1.95 0.50 Mathematics (T) 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 0 75.00% 25.00% 0.00% 2.08 1.83 0.25 Physics 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100.00% 0.00% 0.00% 2.33 1.97 0.36 Chemtstry 4 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 o 0 100.00% 0.00% 0.00% 2.50 2.45 0.05 Biotogy 3 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 100.00% 0.00% 0.00% 3.00 2.53 0.47 Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia: Result Analysis 2017 2016 2017 Beza 2.37 2.70 0.33 Gred Purata Sekolah (GPS)
50 ACADEMICS STPM 2017: An Interview With The Top Achievers For the year 2017, Penang Free School is proud to have two students scoring an outstanding 4 principal A’s. Our members of the Penang Free School Editorial Board were there to witness the euphoria and disappointment as the 2017 Upper 6 students received their much anticipated results. We were fortunate to interview the school’s 2017 STPM top scorers. They shared with us their experiences and advice on how to ace in the STPM examination. 1. Did you expect yourself to be one of the top scorers in Penang Free School? Saw Keat Chuan: No, not really. I have never thought about it before. Merissa: Hmmm.. why not? 2. Who would you like to credit for your success? Saw Keat Chuan: Definitely to all my teachers, friends and family as well. Merissa: Teachers 3. So, are there any secrets to your achievement? Saw Keat Chuan: My secrets are quite subtle and simple. Just pay attention in class, complete all assignments and homework, study smart and the moral support from my parents and teachers. Merissa: Nope, none. There are no secrets. I don’t have any magical powers. 4. What are your future plans? Saw Keat Chuan: I plan to further my studies in biotechnology at a private university if I am able to receive a scholarship. Otherwise, the public university will do as burdening my parents is not an option for me. Merissa: I plan to become a Lawyer. 5. Do you have a personal motto or advice you would like to share with fellow Frees? Saw Keat Chuan: Be good to your friends, and enjoy the best moments with them. Respect your teachers. Love your school, and be a proud and dignified student. Merissa: I don’t have a personal motto, that would actually sound ridiculous. Advice... Listen to your teachers!
51 ACADEMICS STPM 2017 Top Achievers SPM 2017 Top Achievers
52 ACADEMICS List Of Prize Winners 2017 FORM 1 1. (a)Geografi OFA MUHAMAD FAKHRUL AZIM 1 Budiman Hadiah Sumbangan BIN MD TAJUL Old Frees’ Association Penang (b)Asas Sains Komputer OFA MUHAMAD FAKHRUL AZIM 1 Budiman Hadiah Sumbangan BIN MD TAJUL Old Frees’ Association Penang 2. (a)Bahasa Perancis OFA ALVIN SONG CHUN YI 1 Fitrah Hadiah Sumbangan En. Cheng Chee Choong (b)Pendidikan Muzik TD ALVIN SONG CHUN YI 1 Fitrah Hadiah Sumbangan Old Frees’ Association Penang 3. (a)Sejarah TD IYZZAN BIN YAHYA 1 Amanah Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Anwarrudin bin Ahamad Osman (b)Hadiah Galakan Kemajuan Cemerlang PIBG IYZZAN BIN YAHYA 1 Amanah Pelajar Rancangan Khas 4. Sejarah TD MUHAMMAD SYUAIB 1 Harmoni Hadiah Sumbangan BIN MOHAMED HANIFA Dato’ Anwarrudin bin Ahamad Osman 5. Bahasa Melayu OFA KABILAN A/L PALANY 1 Dinamik Hadiah Sumbangan Old Frees’ Association Penang 6. Pendidikan Islam TD SYAZWI HAZIQ 1 Cekal Hadiah Sumbangan Tn. Hj. Ramli bin Din BIN SYED ABU HASSAN (b)Pendidikan Seni Visual OFA SYAZWI HAZIQ 1 Cekal Hadiah Sumbangan Old Frees’ Association Penang BIN SYED ABU HASSAN 7. Pendidikan Moral OFA LIM HUI ZERN 1 Elit Hadiah Sumbangan Old Frees’ Association Penang 8. Reka Bentuk Teknologi TD MOHAMAD ADHAM IKRAM 1 Amanah Hadiah Sumbangan Koperasi PFS BIN IDERIS 9. Bahasa Inggeris TD S. SABRISYAN PILLAY 1 Cekal Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Syed Mohd Aidid bin Syed Murtaza 10. Bahasa Inggeris TD OOI JUN HAO 1 Cekal Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Syed Mohd Aidid bin Syed Murtaza 11. Hadiah Kebolehan Am 1 TD GIDEON SELVA 1 Fitrah Hadiah Sumbangan Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu 12. (a)Hadiah Kebolehan Am 2 TD ADAM BIN IMRAN ISKANDAR 1 Cekal Hadiah Sumbangan Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu (b)Lisan Bahasa Inggeris TA ADAM BIN IMRAN ISKANDAR 1 Cekal Hadiah Yeap Gaik Ee Neoh 13. Hadiah Galakan Kemajuan Cemerlang PIBG 1.MUHAMMAD IFWAT 1 Budiman Pelajar Rancangan Khas BIN RASHIDAN 2.MUHAMAD ARMAN BIN YUSRI 1 Elit 3.MUHAMAD HISYAMUDIN 1 Amanah BIN SAMSUDIN 4.MUHAMMAD KHAIRUL 1 Amanah SYZWAN BIN SALIM
53 ACADEMICS List Of Prize Winners 2017 FORM 2 1. (a)Bahasa Inggeris TD KRISADA OOI SHEN YANG 2 Elit Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Syed Mohd Aidid bin Syed Murtaza (b)Bahasa Perancis OFA KRISADA OOI SHEN YANG 2 Elit Hadiah Sumbangan Old Frees’ Association Penang 2. (a)Geografi TD DARIEN CHONG 2 Gigih Hadiah Sumbangan En. Ho Yok Chai BIN ADHAM CHONG (b)Sejarah TD DARIEN CHONG 2 Gigih Hadiah Sumbangan BIN ADHAM CHONG Dato’ Anwarrudin bin Ahamad Osman 3. Sejarah TD AHMAD LUQMAN 2 Elit Hadiah Sumbangan BIN AHMAD AZHARI Dato’ Anwarrudin bin Ahamad Osman 4. Bahasa Melayu TD AHMAD IMRAN BIN ANUAR 2 Elit Hadiah Sumbangan En. Abdul Rahim bin Ahmad Hamid 5. Kemahiran Hidup TD JAIGENDRAN A/L LOGONATHAN 2 Dinamik Hadiah Sumbangan Koperasi PFS 6. Literasi Komputer OFA AFIQ HAIQAL BIN YUSWADY 2 Amanah Hadiah Sumbangan Old Frees’ Association Penang 7. Matematik TD SHAUN KOAY XIN SHOU 2 Dinamik Hadiah Sumbangan Cik Teoh Bee Yan 8. Pendidikan Islam TD FAIZ DANIAL BIN MOHD NASIR 2 Amanah Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Ahmad bin Ibni Hajar 9. Pendidikan Moral OFA TAN MING REO 2 Elit Hadiah Sumbangan Old Frees’ Association Penang 10. Pendidikan Sivik dan Kewarganegaraan OFA HAFIY DANI BIN HELMI 2 Gigih Hadiah Sumbangan Old Frees’ Association Penang 11. Pendidikan Muzik OFA MOHAMAD DANIAL 2 Amanah Hadiah Sumbangan Old Frees’ Association Penang BIN MOHAMED AMIN 12. Hadiah Kebolehan Am 1 TD MUHAMMAD AFIQ 2 Gigih Hadiah Sumbangan Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu BIN SHAIPULBAHRI 13. Hadiah Kebolehan Am 2 TD TANG YONG JUN 2 Elit Hadiah Sumbangan Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu
54 ACADEMICS List Of Prize Winners 2017 FORM 3 1. (a) Bahasa Melayu TD ANIL VARMEN 3 Elit Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Mohd Zaki bin Md Yasin A/L GUNACHANDRAN (b) Geografi TA/TD ANIL VARMEN 3 Elit Hadiah Sumbangan Ong Huck Keat A/L GUNACHANDRAN dan Tn. Hj. Ramli bin Din 2. (a) Pendidikan Sivik dan Kewarganegaraan TD WONG KAM THOR 3 Elit Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Dr. Anwar Fazal (b) Bahasa Perancis TD WONG KAM THOR 3 Elit Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Ahmad bin Ibni Hajar 3. (a) Kemahiran Hidup TD MUHAMMAD IRFAN 3 Elit Hadiah Sumbangan En. Hairol Amin bin Salim BIN HASBULLAH (b) Hadiah Kenangan Kapten Dato’ Hj. Mohd Noor TA MUHAMMAD IRFAN 3 Elit untuk Pelajar Melayu Terbaik Tingkatan 3 BIN HASBULLAH (b) Hadiah Galakan Kemajuan Cemerlang PIBG MUHAMMAD IRFAN 3 Elit Pelajar Rancangan Khas BIN HASBULLAH 4. (a) Pendidikan Islam TD MUHAMMAD ALIF 3 Gigih Hadiah Sumbangan Pn. Saleha binti Salleh BIN AZAHARI (b) Hadiah Galakan Kemajuan Cemerlang PIBG MUHAMMAD ALIF 3 Gigih Pelajar Rancangan Khas BIN AZAHARI 5. (a) Pendidikan Seni Visual TD ABANG SHAHARASH 3 Dinamik Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Ahmad bin Ibni Hajar BIN ABANG MAHMUD (b) Hadiah Galakan Kemajuan Cemerlang PIBG ABANG SHAHARASH 3 Dinamik Pelajar Rancangan Khas BIN ABANG MAHMUD 6. (a) Pendidikan Muzik TD MUHAMMAD SYUKUR AMIN 3 Amanah Hadiah Sumbangan Tan Sri Dato’ Mohd Sheriff bin Mohd Kassim BIN MOHD BADRULSHAM (b) Hadiah Galakan Kemajuan Cemerlang PIBG MUHAMMAD SYUKUR AMIN 3 Amanah Pelajar Rancangan Khas BIN MOHD BADRULSHAM 7. Pendidikan Muzik TD MOHAMAD MANJA 3 Harmoni Hadiah Sumbangan Tan Sri Dato’ Mohd Sheriff bin Mohd Kassim BIN MASDI 8. Sains TD EWE DYLAN 3 Dinamik Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Dr. Joseph Kow Hock Beng 9. Bahasa Inggeris TD FARHAN ALI 3 Dinamik Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Syed Mohd Aidid bin Syed Murtaza BIN IRFHAN ALI 10.Kemahiran Hidup TD DHILLON JOSHUA 3 Elit Hadiah Sumbangan En. Hairol Amin bin Salim A/L KUMARASAMY 11.Matematik TD UGENDRABABU 3 Dinamik Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Mohamed Zain bin Mohamed Yusof A/L NOOKARAJU 12.Pendidikan Moral TD TAN YOU YI 3 Elit Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Dr. Anwar Fazal 13.Sejarah TD CHEAH ER CANG 3 Amanah Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Anwarrudin bin Ahamad Osman 14.Lisan Bahasa Inggeris TA SYAFIQ HAIKAL 3 Elit Hadiah Yeap Gaik Ee Neoh BIN NORIZHAM 15.Hadiah Kebolehan Am 1 TD KHOR JUN BIN 3 Amanah Hadiah Sumbangan Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu 16.Hadiah Kebolehan Am 2 TD GANAPATHI 3 Dinamik Hadiah Sumbangan Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu A/L MURUGAPPAN 17.Hadiah Galakan Kemajuan Cemerlang PIBG 1.MUHAMMAD HAIKAL 3 Amanah Pelajar Rancangan Khas” BIN MOHAMAD ZUBIR
55 ACADEMICS List Of Prize Winners 2017 FORM 4 1. (a) Bahasa Inggeris TD MUHAMMED ARIF 4 Cekal Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Syed Mohd Aidid bin Syed Murtaza BIN MOHD ALI JINNAH (b) Pendidikan Islam TD MUHAMMED ARIF 4 Cekal Hadiah Sumbangan En. Abu Kassim bin Abu Hasim BIN MOHD ALI JINNAH 2. (a) Pendidikan Moral TD TEOH JOE VIRN 4 Budiman Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Dr. Joseph Kow Hock Beng (b) Bahasa Melayu TD TEOH JOE VIRN 4 Budiman Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Ahmad bin Ibni Hajar 3. (a) Kimia TD JAMES LIM WEI MING 4 Budiman Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Hj. Mohamad Fadzill bin Hassan (b) Prinsip Perakaunan TD JAMES LIM WEI MING 4 Budiman Hadiah Sumbangan Tan Sri Dato’ Mohd Sheriff bin Mohd Kassim 4. (a) Sains OFA IRFAN HAKIMI BIN NOORDIN 4 Gigih Hadiah Sumbangan Old Frees’ Association Penang (b) Perdagangan TD IRFAN HAKIMI BIN NOORDIN 4 Gigih Hadiah Sumbangan Pn. Faridah binti Abdul Wahab 5. (a) Literature in English OFA LEKHARAAJ 4 Cekal Hadiah Sumbangan Old Frees’ Association Penang ANAK R GAIJANDREN (b) Literary Writing (Tingkatan 4 / 5) TA LEKHARAAJ 4 Cekal Hadiah Sumbangan Dr. Lee Tiang Keng ANAK R GAIJANDREN 6. Biologi TD SHAWN TAN ZHU WEN 4 Budiman Hadiah Sumbangan Pn. Hatijah bte. Ibrahim 7. Grafik Komunikasi Teknikal TD MOHAMAD DARWISY 4 Amanah Hadiah Sumbangan En. Tay Lee Soon BIN ABDULLAH 8. Matematik TD VERNON GAN WEN SHEN 4 Cekal Hadiah Sumbangan En. Abdul Samad bin Ismail 9. Matematik Tambahan TD SANJHIIV 4 Cekal Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Mohamed Zain bin Mohamed Yusof A/L KIRUBANANDAN 10.Matematik Tambahan TD ENOCH LEE YOONG SHURN 4 Cekal Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Mohamed Zain bin Mohamed Yusof 11.(a) Pengetahuan Sains Sukan OFA MUHAMMAD HILMI 4 Harmoni Hadiah Sumbangan Old Frees’ Association Penang BIN ZAFFAR (b) Pendidikan Seni Visual OFA MUHAMMAD HILMI 4 Harmoni Hadiah Sumbangan Old Frees’ Association Penang BIN ZAFFAR 12.Pendidikan Sivik dan Kewarganegaraan TD TAI YUNG ERN 4 Budiman Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Ahmad bin Ibni Hajar 13.Lisan Bahasa Inggeris TA KISHEN A/L RAMAKIRSHNAN 4 Elit Hadiah Yeap Gaik Ee Neoh 14.Hadiah Kebolehan Am 1 TD ABDUL MAJEED BIN ALAUDIN 4 Dinamik Hadiah Sumbangan Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu 15.Hadiah Kebolehan Am 2 TD MOHAMED AFIQ 4 Budiman Hadiah Sumbangan Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu BIN MOHAMED FAZIL
56 ACADEMICS List Of Prize Winners 2017 FORM 5 1. (a) Kimia TD BOEY TIAN LAI 5 Budiman Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Hj. Kamil Noor Ariff bin Mushir Ariff (b) Matematik Tambahan TD BOEY TIAN LAI 5 Budiman Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Mohamed Zain bin Mohamed Yusof 2. (a) Pendidikan Sivik dan Kewarganegaraan TD MUHAMMAD FIRDAUS 5 Dinamik Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Dr. Anwar Fazal BIN MOHD FAIZAL (b) Pendidikan Islam TD MUHAMMAD FIRDAUS 5 Dinamik Hadiah Sumbangan Tn. Hj. Waheed Rahman bin K. Mohamed Sultan BIN MOHD FAIZAL 3. (a) Lukisan Kejuruteraan TD MOHAMAD TAUFIQ 5 Amanah Hadiah Sumbangan Tn. Hj. Abdul Jalil bin Ahmad BIN SULAIMAN (b) Hadiah Galakan Kemajuan Cemerlang PIBG MOHAMAD TAUFIQ 5 Amanah Pelajar Rancangan Khas BIN SULAIMAN 4. (a) Pendidikan Seni Visual TD WAN MUHAMAD AQIL HAKIMI 5 Harmoni Hadiah Sumbangan Tn. Hj. Abdul Jalil bin Ahmad BIN WAN MOHD ZAWAWI (b) Hadiah Galakan Kemajuan Cemerlang PIBG WAN MUHAMAD AQIL HAKIMI 5 Harmoni Pelajar Rancangan Khas BIN WAN MOHD ZAWAWI 5. (a) Perdagangan TD MUHAMMAD AKMAL ZIYAD 5 Harmoni Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Hj. Kamil Khalid Ariff bin Mushir Ariff BIN ZAINUDDIN (b) Pengetahuan Sains Sukan TD MUHAMMAD AKMAL ZIYAD 5 Harmoni Hadiah Sumbangan Old Frees’ Muslim Association (OFMA) BIN ZAINUDDIN (c) Hadiah Galakan Kemajuan Cemerlang PIBG MUHAMMAD AKMAL ZIYAD 5 Harmoni Pelajar Rancangan Khas BIN ZAINUDDIN 6. Bahasa Inggeris TD BENJAMIN YEUNG JO YEE 5 Dinamik Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Syed Mohd Aidid bin Syed Murtaza 7. Biologi TD OOI TENG CHOW 5 Budiman Hadiah Sumbangan En. Lee Chong Hai 8. (a) Bahasa Melayu TD YEOH KENG BOON 5 Dinamik Hadiah Sumbangan Pn. Saadiah binti Jaafar (b) Matematik TD YEOH KENG BOON 5 Dinamik Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Mohamed Zain bin Mohamed Yusof 9. Pendidikan Moral TD OOI MING YEUNG 5 Budiman Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Dr. Anwar Fazal 10.Prinsip Perakaunan TD BOL RAM 5 Budiman Hadiah Sumbangan Tn. Hj. Abdul Jalil bin Ahmad 11.Sains OFA MUHAMMAD RAIMI 5 Harmoni Hadiah Sumbangan Old Frees’ Association Penang BIN ABDUL LATIF 12.Lisan Bahasa Inggeris TA DAVID TEOH XING QIANG 5 Budiman Hadiah Yeap Gaik Ee Neoh 13.(a) Hadiah Kenangan TA MUHAMMAD AZHAR 5 Dinamik Kapten Dato’ Hj. Mohd Noor BIN MUHAMED ALI untuk Pelajar Melayu Terbaik Tingkatan 5 (b) Hadiah Kebolehan Am 1 TD MUHAMMAD AZHAR 5 Dinamik Hadiah Sumbangan Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu BIN MUHAMED ALI 14.Hadiah Kebolehan Am 2 TD LEONG CHUN SHENG 5 Dinamik Hadiah Sumbangan Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu 15.Hadiah Galakan Kemajuan Cemerlang PIBG 1. MUHAMMAD AL-ADIB IRFAN 5 Harmoni Pelajar Rancangan Khas BIN MAT RANI 2. MUHAMMAD SOLEHUDDIN 5 Harmoni BIN YUZAIDI
57 ACADEMICS List Of Prize Winners 2017 FORM U6 List Of Prize Winners 2017 1. Malaysian University English Test (MUET) TD STEVEN CHAN CHONG WEI 6 Atas B Hadiah Sumbangan Cik Teh Bee Kim 2. Literary Writing (Tingkatan 6) TA THIVIYA A/P SUNDRAM 6 Atas 4 Hadiah Sumbangan Dr. Lee Tiang Keng TINGKATAN 1 (a) Pelajar Terbaik di Tingkatan 1 OFA JOSHUA NG SHAO WEN 1 Cekal Hadiah Sumbangan Old Frees’ Association Penang (b) Matematik TD JOSHUA NG SHAO WEN 1 Cekal Hadiah Sumbangan En. Ooi Hooi Seng (c) Sains TD JOSHUA NG SHAO WEN 1 Cekal Hadiah Sumbangan Koperasi PFS TINGKATAN 2 (a) Pelajar Terbaik di Tingkatan 2 OFA DERRIC KUAN ZHEN JIE 2 Elit Hadiah Sumbangan Old Frees’ Association Penang (b) Pendidikan Seni Visual OFA DERRIC KUAN ZHEN JIE 2 Elit Hadiah Sumbangan Old Frees’ Association Penang (c) Sains TD DERRIC KUAN ZHEN JIE 2 Elit Hadiah Sumbangan En. Boopalan Manickam (d) Lisan Bahasa Inggeris TA DERRIC KUAN ZHEN JIE 2 Elit Hadiah Yeap Gaik Ee Neoh TINGKATAN 3 (a) Pelajar Terbaik di Tingkatan 3 TA HEAVENDRAN 3 Elit Hadiah Bicentenary A/L THAMIL SELVAN TINGKATAN 4 (a) Pelajar Terbaik di Tingkatan 4 OFA DARRELL CHIN WEI YI 4 Cekal Hadiah Sumbangan Old Frees’ Association Penang (b) Fizik TD DARRELL CHIN WEI YI 4 Cekal Hadiah Sumbangan Tan Sri Dato’ Mohd Desa Pachi (c) Sejarah TD DARRELL CHIN WEI YI 4 Cekal Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Anwarrudin bin Ahamad Osman TINGKATAN 5 (a) Pelajar Terbaik di Tingkatan 5 TA SARJIT SINGH BEDI 5 Dinamik Hadiah Bicentenary A/L BALJIT SINGH (b) Sejarah TD SARJIT SINGH BEDI 5 Dinamik Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Anwarrudin bin Ahamad Osman A/L BALJIT SINGH (c) Fizik TD SARJIT SINGH BEDI 5 Dinamik Hadiah Kenangan Dato’ Hj. Kamil Mushir Ariff A/L BALJIT SINGH TINGKATAN 6 ATAS (a) Pelajar Terbaik di Tingkatan 6 Atas TA SAW KEAT CHUAN 6 Atas B Hadiah Bicentenary (b) Kimia TD SAW KEAT CHUAN 6 Atas B Hadiah Sumbangan Dato’ Dr. Joseph Kow Hock Beng (c) Biologi TD SAW KEAT CHUAN 6 Atas B Hadiah Sumbangan En. Abu Yazid bin Dato’ Hj Mohd Noor
58 ACADEMICS Bil HADIAH Bil AMAUN NAMA KELAS 1. Puan Sri Haseenah Abdoolcader 1 RM300 Neo Swee Chen 6A2/16 2. Dr. Apparajoo 1 RM150 Sarjit Singh Bedi a/l Baljit Singh 5D 3. Cheah Chim Yean 2 RM100 Lim Shu Chuen Derric 5B/16 Yap Yew Shen 5B/16 4. Choong Cheng Kean 2 RM100 Boey Tian Lai 5B Yeoh Keng Boon 5D 5. Diamond Jubilee 1 RM 50 Jonson Lim Jia Sheng 5B/16 6. Biasiswa Hutchings 1 RM500 Julian Keh Teng Ju 6AC/16 7. Kim Lan Seah 1 RM150 Lim Shu Zhe Dylan 5B/16 8. Lee Boon Choe 2 RM 50 Hans Lee Hon Mun 5B/16 Sarveen a/l Suppiah 5B/16 9. Lim Liew Saik Neoh 1 RM100 Ian Khoo Jia Ern 5B 10. Poe Choo Seah 1 RM100 Yap Yew Shen 5B/16 11. Sara 1 RM100 Muhammad Azhar bin Muhamed Ali 5D Bil HADIAH Bil AMAUN NAMA KELAS 1. Chee Swee Siang 4 RM140 Saw Keat Chuan (Sains 6R) 6AB Amirul Ezuar bin Ahmad Khairuddin (Sas 6R) 6A3 Saw Keat Chuan (Sains 6A) 6AB Merissa a/p Ramindran (Sas 6A) 6A1 2. Choong Eng Hye 5 RM 20 Naveenthran a/l Mohana Sundaram (PA) 6AA Hemaviknesh a/l Supramaniam (MUET) 6AB Saw Keat Chuan (Bio) 6AB Naveenthran a/l Mohana Sundaram 6AA Amirul Ezuar bin Ahmad Khairuddin 6A3 3. Goh Teik Chee 2 RM100 Leong Chun Sheng 5D Ooi Ming Yeung 5B 4. Gottlieb 1 RM100 Shaarvin Raj a/l Manimoly 5B/16 5. Khoo Cheow Teong 1 RM150 Tharun Raj a/l Mani Raj 5B/16 6. Koay Thean Chin 1 RM 50 Sarjit Singh Bedi a/l Baljit Singh 5D 7. Peace 1 RM100 Boey Tian Lai 5B 8. Sesquicentenary 3 RM100 Saw Keat Chuan 6AB Sarjit Singh Bedi a/l Baljit Singh 5D Heavendran a/l Thamil Selvan 3E 9. Tan Eng Choon 1 RM100 Sarjit Singh Bedi a/l Baljit Singh 5D 10. Tunku Syed Husin 1 RM150 Nizar bin Jalaludeen Rajagobar 5B/16 Hadiah Tabung Amanah Penang Free School 2017
59 ACADEMICS Bil HADIAH Bil AMAUN NAMA KELAS 1. Compassionate Fund 3 RM100 Abang Shaharash bin Abang Mahmud 3D Vimal Vell a/l Pathmanathan 4G Altaf Ali bin Abdul Jabar 4F 2. General Purpose Fund 4 RM150 Merissa a/p Ramindran 6A1 Hayatun Syamilah binti Sayed Ali 6A1 Anil Varmen a/l Gunachandran 3E Alif Danial bin Azrizal 3D 3. Goodman 1 RM150 Norris Yeap Yeong Wee 5F 4. Ghi Hin Tust Fund 6 RM100 Enoch Lee Yoong Shurn 4C Yeang Kong Li 5D Elijah Lee Yi Shurn 2C Chin Yunn Rou 6R4 Leong Chun Sheng 5D Nicolas Chee Jenn Hinn 3E 5. Khoo Sian Ewe 4 RM100 Ooi Teng Chow 5B Yeoh Keng Boon 5D Douglas Chee Jenn Yang 1F Andrew Ang Yu Yang 5D 6. Shaik Imam Trust Fund 10 RM200 Muhammad Haikal Asyraf bin Mustafa 3D Muhammad Firdaus bin Mohd Faizal 5D Muhamad Hafiz b Zainudeen 4D Muhammad Alif bin Azahari 3G Muhammad Hakimi bin Samsuri 3D Muhammad Ifwat bin Rashidan 1B Muhamad Jefri bin Mohemed 3D Adam Adha bin Kamarul Zaman 4D Muhammad Aizat b Md Noor 6R4 Mohammad Izzam bin Samsuddin 6R4 7. Tye Kee Yoon Trust Fund 6 RM100 Mythili a/p Ravi Chandran 6R4 Vimalan Thevar a/l Munisamy 4F Jony Adprilah Lim bin Mohammad Juni 3D Muhammad Amirul Aiman bin Asrul 1B Muhamad Fakhrul Azim bin Md Tajul 1B Muhammad Ezral Hakimi bin Zulkifly 3D 8. Khoo Heng Pan 3 RM120 Ian Khoo Jia Ern 5B Jezrel Khoo Kah-Shern 1G Kennard Khoo Teng Phin 3E Bil HADIAH Bil AMAUN NAMA KELAS 1. Pingat Emas Puan Sri Haseenah Abdoolcader 1 RM350 Neo Swee Chen 6A2/16 2. Hadiah Pidato Cheeseman 1 RM100 Steven Chan Chong Wei 6AB 3. Pingat Emas Koh Sin Hock untuk Pelajar Hutchings 1 RM150 Julian Keh Teng Ju 6AC/16 4. Hadiah Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu (Pingat Emas) 1 RM150 Hemaviknesh a/l Supramaniam 6AB 5. Hadiah Lim Keat Leong (Matematik Ting 6A) 1 RM100 Tiada 6. Hadiah Ong Huck Keat (Geografi Ting 3) 1 RM 30 Anil Varmen a/l Gunachandran 3E 7. Hadiah Tanda Peringatan Pinhorn (Sejarah Ting 6A) 1 RM100 Tiada 8. Hadiah Yeap Gaik Ee Neoh (Lisan Bahasa Inggeris) 5 RM 50 Adam bin Imran Iskandar 1C Derric Kuan Zhen Jie 2E Syafiq Haikal Norizham 3E Kishen a/l Ramakirshnan 4E David Teoh Xing Qiang 5B 9. Eric Lim Boon Eng (Hoki) 2 RM100 Azriel Za Faiz bin Azahar 5H Muhammad Azim Fahmi bin Mohd Azam 4G KATEGORI C KATEGORI D
60 ACADEMICS Bil HADIAH Bil AMAUN NAMA KELAS 10. Michael Lim Boon Kooi (Olahraga) 3 RM100 Muhammad Fakhrul bin Abdul Aziz 4D Izzali Ismi bin Haji Ishak 4D Haashwein a/l Moganan 5D 11. Ian Ritchie (Pengakap) 3 RM 80 Ooi Kai Yang 1F Aaron Iman Kennedy 1D Alvin Song Chun Yi 1F Ian Ritchie (Ragbi) 4 RM60 Ahmad Nabil bin Ahmad Kahar 4G Muhammad Saifudin bin Jamaludin 5A Muhammad Harith bin Mohd Fadhli 4G Muhammad Haqimie bin Rohizad 4G 12. Tabung Teh Choon Beng 8 RM100 Pershanth a/l Shanmugam Dass 5B Norman Sim 4C Raul Ram Devan 4C Muhammad Hasef bin Ameer Sajahan 4C Adam Lugun Raj 5B Louis Chin Teng Aun 2E Netaji Rao a/l Murali 2F Nicolas Chee Jenn Hinn 3E 13. Kong Tai Seng 1 RM100 Hemaviknesh a/l Supramaniam 6AB 14. Koay Teik Swee 3 RM 50 Amir Daniel bin Abdul Majeed 1E Chin Chun Yuan 4B Viknesh a/l Pulaventhiran 5C 15. Kelas 1961 (Pelajar SPM) 1 RM 50 Sarjit Singh Bedi a/l Baljit Singh 5D 16. Persatuan Pelajaran Dewasa (Pelajar SPM) 2 RM100 Boey Tian Lai 5B Matthew Arwinraj Jaya Paul 5D 17. P. Sachithanantham (pelajar India Pasukan Beruniform) 2 RM100 Arvinth Nair a/l Mahendran 5C Khaaliswaran a/l Ramanagaran 6A1 18. Kapten Dato Hj. Md. Noor (Pelajar Melayu yang terbaik Ting 3, 5, 6) 1 RM 70 Muhammad Irfan B. Hasbullah 3E 1 RM 80 Muhammad Azhar bin Muhamed Ali 5D 1 RM 90 Tiada 19. Tan Teong Siew (Pelajar Ting 6 [2]) 2 RM 70 Lo Lai Imm 6RB Saw Keat Chuan 6AB (Hoki U-15 [1]) 1 RM70 Muhammad Alif Aqil bin Abu Seman 3H 20. Tan Lo Eong/ Chew Gaik Lean (Pelajar Tingkatan 5 yang Terbaik) 1 RM200 Sarjit Singh Bedi a/l Baljit Singh 5D (2 pelajar Ting 4) 2 RM120 Dheevien a/l Moganan 4G Abdul Majeed bin Alaudin 4D (4 pelajar Ting 2)VT 4 RM20 Derric Kuan Zhen Jie 2E Krisada Ooi Shen Yang 2E Darien Chong bin Adham Chong 2G Shaun Koay Xin Shou 2D 21. Hadiah Kesusasteraan Dr. Lee Tiang Keng (Ting 6) 1 RM100 Thiviya a/p Sundram 6A4 22. Hadiah Kesusateraan Junior Dr. Lee Tiang Keng (Ting 4/5) 1 RM80 Lekharaaj Anak R Gaijandren 4C 23. Hadiah Tanda Peringatan Sarada Aravind (Pembahas Terbaik dalam B. Inggeris) 1 RM100 Adam Lugun Raj 5B
61 ACADEMICS HADIAH TABUNG AMANAH DAN HADIAH LAIN 2017 1. Hadiah Pidato Cheeseman TA STEVEN CHAN CHONG WEI 6 Atas B 2. Sarada Aravind Debating Prize TA ADAM LUGUN RAJ 5 Budiman for the Most Outstanding Debator in the English Language for the Year 2017 3. Pingat Emas Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu HEMAVIKNESH 6 Atas B A/L SUPRAMANIAM 4. Piala Datuk Hj. Aziz bin Md. Ibrahim NORRIS YEAP YEONG WEE 5 Fitrah untuk Pengakap Terbaik 5. Piala Dr. Goon Fatt Chee untuk Pelajar Terbaik BENJAMIN YEUNG JO YEE 5 Dinamik dalam Bahasa Inggeris Tingkatan 5 6. Piala Tan Sri Dato’ Elyas Omar SARJIT SINGH BEDI 5 Dinamik untuk Pelajar Terbaik Tingkatan 5 A/L BALJIT SINGH 7. Anugerah Dato’ Haji Abdul Rafique bin Abdul Karim SPM NIZAR BIN JALALUDEEN 5 Budiman untuk Pelajar Melayu Cemerlang Peringkat SPM Tahun 2016 RAJAGOBAR (Tahun 2016) (Piala Pusingan, Piala Iringan dan wang tunai RM200) 8. Anugerah PIBG untuk Pelajar Asrama Terbaik SPM ADAM MUHAMMAD ZACKRY 5 Cekal Peringkat SPM Tahun 2016 BIN ZULKIFLY (Tahun 2016) (Piala Pusingan, Piala Iringan dan wang tunai RM200) 9. Anugerah Kapten Zaharie bin Ahmad Shah MUHAMMAD AKMAL ZIYAD 5 Harmoni untuk Pelajar Cemerlang Asrama Tahun 2017 BIN ZAINUDDIN (Piala Pusingan dan wang tunai RM100) 10.J. M. B. Hughes Award SARJIT SINGH BEDI 5 Dinamik for the Most Excellent Student for the Year 2017 A/L BALJIT SINGH 11.Jean Hughes Award MUHAMMAD ASYRAAF SYAHMI 5 Fitrah for “Best Music and Drama Student Prize” BIN RAMELI 12.Pingat Emas Koh Sin Hock TA JULIAN KEH TENG JU 6 Atas C untuk Pelajar Hutchings (Tahun 2016) 13.Pingat Emas Puan Sri Haseenah Abdoolcader TA NEO SWEE CHEN 6 Atas 2 (Tahun 2016) 14. Hadiah Madam Chung Guat Hooi PT3 JAMES LIM WEI MING 3 Elit untuk Pelajar Cemerlang PT3, SPM dan STPM (Tahun 2016) Tahun 2016 PT3 MUHAMMED ARIF 3 Elit BIN MOHD ALI JINNAH (Tahun 2016) SPM THARUN RAJ A/L MANI RAJ 5 Budiman (Tahun 2016) STPM ALVIN KHAW JIN HOWE 6 Atas B (Tahun 2016)
62 ADVERTISEMENT PENANG FREE SCHOOL DESIGNATED AS HERITAGE SITE 2018 CONGRATULATIONS FROM NAI BEJ SARARAKS BSc. (ECON.)HONS. LOND. NT. (IN PFS 1972 - 1992)
63 HAPPENINGS
64 HAPPENINGS Speech Day 2017
65 HAPPENINGS Co-curriculum Day 2017
66 HAPPENINGS Recruitment Drive
67 HAPPENINGS Additional Sports
68 HAPPENINGS Sports Day I n the month of April, many students of the eight sports houses were eagerly awaiting for the arrival of the 86th annual Sports Day. Quite a number of the fifth formers were enthusiastic in contributing points to their respective sports houses as it would be their last year to help their teams to be the champion in school. There was a flurry of activities as the day drew nearer and everyone who was involved practised hard for the march past, made preparations for the tent decorations and finalised the names of participants for the field and track events. On the day of reckoning, one could clearly see the Free School spirit through the competitive attitude of the athletes and the undying tradition of the Frees who came up with the most creative mascot for their respective houses. Unsurprisingly, Sirajuddin House won the first placing for the overall events and their standing was undisputed with the help of their very own star athlete, Muhd. Fakhrul Abdul Aziz. At the end of the day, all the participants headed home in high spirits, some after having accomplished their objectives and others after having tried their best and gaming for the next annual do.
69 HAPPENINGS Program Seni Malaysia-Korea
70 HAPPENINGS Your Midsummer Night’s Dream of the most captivating performances and well-received having had a positive feedback from the appreciative crowd. The show also included a modern K-pop dance, a live band, a traditional Indian and Malay dance, a singing group and a lion dance before and during the intermission. The crowd also played a surprising role by clapping in tune and flashing their smart phones during the singing session to show their support and they also created a sense of camaraderie that warmed the hearts of everyone in the hall. The additional sounds of laughter and clapping from the ladies and gentlemen of all ages during the play certainly spurred the cast and the crew to perform to the best of their abilities. If it weren’t for their undying support and cheers, the play wouldn’t have been such a hit. To recap, the play, "Your Midsummer Night’s Dream” was a wondrous dream that became a reality through the efforts of the artistic director, student directors, teachers and school players who believed in it. Bravo! Written by: Jason Tan On the 29th and 30th of June 2018, Penang Free School presented a play entitled “Your Midsummer Night’s Dream”. The adapted play was a tribute to the famous playwright, William Shakespeare and a commemoration of the school’s 100th year of the inception of the Music and Drama club and the staging of the play in Penang Free School. The directors and players of the drama strove to capture the essence of the original play written by the man of wonder himself back in the day but with a modern twist to captivate and awe the audience. The stars of the night, mainly the actors and actresses who were clad in their custom-made outfits enthralled the crowd with their fine performance and articulate lines. Characters from the famous play were brought to life and the message on the intrigues of love hit the nail on the head for the audiences, young and old alike. The play was a success thanks to not just the actors and actresses, but also to the unsung heroes who played their background roles to the hilt to ensure that the events for the night ran smoothly. After many months of hard work, determination and dedication, the play was in short, one
71 HAPPENINGS Orientation Ball ex-student, Gehvindran, performed a solo dance which hyped the crowd tremendously. The wonderful evening was further enlivened with the presence of two retiring teachers, Mr. Tan Swee Guan and Mr. Lim Weng Seong who took the opportunity to revel in the merriment of the enchanted evening with their former students. As the performances and flow of food came to an end, the announcement of the awards for the night started rolling in, namely the Best Dressed Male and Female, as well as the Prom Prince and Princess. Finally, after much cheering and clapping , the crowd’s favourite, the dashing Ooi Kok Liang and alluring Amira Marissa clinched the much awaited award of Prom King and Queen respectively. Although the ball was officially over, students were still blissfully mingling about, snapping photographs with friends and chatting the night away. As the weary but joyous guests at the ball started making their way home, one could not help but notice the happy faces and cherished memories etched in their hearts and minds of that delightful ball. Written by: Mohitha Ramachandran 7 th July 2018, the day long awaited by all Sixth Formers for the boys to dress up dashingly and girls to be as classy as they could be. The extravagant event was held in the new Lexis Suites Penang, located just beside the beach at Teluk Kumbar. Registrations began at 6.30 pm sharp and students quickly filled up the foyer decked in their best outfits. By 7pm, the doors to the halls were opened and the emcees for the night, Hishamuddin Johari and Amira Marissa were quick and sleek with their introduction. Next, a speech was given by the president, Jason Tan followed by the Senior Assistant of Form 6, Encik Rahamatullah bin Sulaiman. At 7.30pm, the night commenced with the serving of the food and without much ado, students were up and about, eagerly feasting themselves with the array of delicious spread that was laid before them. A slide show of the nominees for the awards of the night was presented on the screens so that voting could ensue throughout the night through an online voting poll. Soon afterwards, the entertainment for the night kicked off with the freshmen and seniors boldly showcasing their talent on stage. To add the fun at the ball, an
72 HAPPENINGS ISEP Penang Free - Phichai R.
73 HAPPENINGS Cheeseman Elocution The Cheeseman E l o c u t i o n Competition was held on the 24 JUNE 2018 in the school hall. 19 students, comprising Form 4, 5 and Lower 6 students took part in this annual event. Out of the 19 students, 10 students managed to make it to the second round: the impromptu speech. After a grueling session, Melanie Catrina Gomez of Lower 6B emerged as the champion, followed by Tharswin Ananthan of 4E and Danish Imran of 4C.
74 HAPPENINGS Retirement As the sayings goes, “All good things must come to an end”. Once again, Penang Free School (PFS) bids adieu to one of its passionate and experienced teachers, Mr. Tan Swee Guan upon his retirement. Mr. Tan began teaching in PFS, which is also his Alma Mater, in December 1991. He had served the school for 27 years. As a teacher in PFS, Mr. Tan had directed and co-directed a number of plays such as “Beauty and the Beast” and “Our Wizard of Oz”. “Your Midsummer Night’s Dream” was the last play directed by him before his retirement. His outstanding service comprised his duties as the Teacher Advisor of the Editorial Board (1992 – 1998), the Board of Prefects (2001 – 2005), and most memorably, the Board of Student Librarians (2006 – 2018). Indeed Mr. Tan had served his Alma Mater well. We would like to take this opportunity to wish Mr. Tan Swee Guan all the best and happy retirement. After 38 illustrious years of teaching, Mr. Ooi Eng Lye finally gets a break from school and starts another new exciting phase in his life. A master teacher for General Studies (Pengajian Am), he first started teaching in Penang Free School on 26 August, 1998. He was the formidable housemaster for P. Ramlee House and the teacher adviser for Rovers Scouts Crew. In addition, he also served as the teacher adviser for the Editorial Board in 2008, 2009 and 2017. His most notable contribution to the school is in the successful International Student Exchange programme between Penang Free School and Phichai Ratanakhan School, Ranong. Indeed, Mr. Ooi has served the school well and we would like to wish him au revoir, Sir with love, all the best and happy retirement! “It takes a minute to say hello and forever to say goodbye", a saying that illustrates well of how we felt on the day we bid Mr. Lim goodbye for his retirement. Mr. Lim started his teaching career in Penang Free school (PFS) on 1 December 1989. Apart from being a dedicated Maths teacher, Mr. Lim is also famous among the students as a "chess lover". Besides that, he had served as a disciplinary teacher in 2001 and a co-ordinator for the PFS Foundation (1997 – 2018). He is also remembered for his role as the Panel Head for Mathematics T and M (2012- 2018). Indeed, Mr. Lim had served his Alma Mater well and we would like to wish him all the best for the future.
75
76 EXPRESSIONS Twelfth Night – The Misconceptions of Malvolio Dr. Lee Tiang Keng Literature Prize (senior) “Every tale condemns me for a villain”, so says King Richard III, one of the most popular antagonists in William Shakespeare’s plays. The same sentiment rings true for the supposed villain of the play “Twelfth Night”, Malvolio; who is portrayed as the party in the wrong by the prolific author and seemingly not a party who has been wronged. Every coin has two sides, therefore one should take great care in examining both before jumping to conclusions about a character, and ponder upon their fate, may it be just or unjust. Malvolio is characterised as a “Puritan” sort of steward who aids Lady Olivia in running her household in an orderly fashion. Due to his straight-laced and inflexible nature, he inevitably clashes with the other revelrous characters in the play like Sir Toby, Sir Andrew and Feste. In order to keep daily matters of the household running smoothly, he butts heads with others, for example when he banned Fabian from “bear-baiting” and his admonishment of Sir Toby’s troupe who were drunkenly causing a ruckus in the middle of the night, sternly scolding them: “Do ye make an alehouse of my lady’s house?” With this, Malvolio is portrayed as a buzzkill, and a self-righteous voice of reason amongst the merry revellers, reminding readers of old men with early-to-bed tendencies. He basks in his moral superiority and seems more of a nagging annoyance when compared to other characters who act less like an “affectioned ass”. His Italian originated name, which roughly translates to “ill will” suits him best then, as this subtly highlights the contempt he has for other’s pleasures in life. Yet, it can be argued that as a steward, Malvolio was only doing his job and filling the expectations placed upon him. Modern viewers must know how difficult it is to make sure a team or an organisation not only runs well, but does not fall apart the moment you let your eyes off of it. In this sense, Malvolio has done a spectacular job in aiding his charge to run the household, so much so that even an outsider like Sebastian commends the ease which Olivia “sways her house”. If we can agree that behind every great man is a great woman; then we should also take into account that behind every great noble’s household there is a great steward. Perhaps without Malvolio’s austere regard and control, the day-to-day tasks of the household would be in shambles and would be a burden to Olivia. As such, we can see that she is very grateful towards him, especially when she mentions: “I would not have him miscarry for the half of my dowry.” showing that she cherishes and cares for the “Pega-Ramsey” steward even though he “accosted” her in what she deems to be “midsummer madness”. Malvolio is also one of the characters in this play who are guilty of philautia. His own brand of “self-love” comes in the form of his unwavering ambition of one day becoming a noble, earning himself the title of “Count Malvolio”. We can clearly see from the play that Malvolio is an individual who cares too much about power, fantasising about the “branched velvet gown” and “rich jewel” which he may obtain if he married his charge, Lady Olivia. He would rather take more pleasure in chastising “cousin Toby” rather than being in love with Olivia herself, possibly seeing her as no more than a means of gaining the intended social status and as satisfaction for his own sexual needs, leaving her in the “day bed”. Olivia too blatantly points out his glaring flaw when she says: “O, you are sick of self-love Malvolio, and taste with a distempered appetite.” His self-regard and tendency to place materialism and power as priorities makes him a rather slick and hateful character early on in the play, and establishes a negative view towards his character. Even so, to be gullibly tricked by Maria on Olivia’s affections making a fool of himself by being “cross-gartered”, wearing garish “yellow stockings” in her presence to “be point device the very man”, and to win her heart (along with a title), does not warrant the rather cruel treatment which is placed upon him by Sir Toby. By locking him up in a dark space, effectively robbing him of light and cutting off all human contact; Malvolio becomes the victim of a joke that went much too far. Scientific studies have shown that a
77 EXPRESSIONS prolonged lack of light not only affects the human body physically, like the lack of vitamin D and causing a disturbance in the circadian rhythm; but also mentally in which it stimulates clinical depression and has the potential of driving humans insane. As it is not stated clearly in the play how much time has Malvolio been locked up, his character is put through a horrible and testing prank in “hideous darkness” after being labeled as “mad”. The prison becomes a symbol of his supposed insanity, as Sir Topas (Feste) fools him that: “There is no darkness but ignorance”. In true form though, Malvolio reverses this implication, clinging tightly on to his sanity and insisting that he has been unjustly “abused” by this “house” which is “as dark as ignorance”. The viewers begins feel a hint of pathos towards the steward who is made to undergo what is essentially torture glorified by ridicule. Malvolio is thoroughly punished for his ambitious thoughts and actions of climbing the social ladder, even though his counterpart Maria does the same and ultimately succeeds. The steward’s sin of excessive, obsequious indulgence in self-love is also condemned and punished for in that prison, even though the nobles Duke Orsino and Lady Olivia are free from any charge and obtain happy endings in their love lives. Is this fair towards him? Malvolio may not be the most morally right character in this play, but it does become apparent that his fate is unjust as he is disciplined in the most humiliating manner for his shortcomings while other characters are let off scot-free. His ominous snarl of: “I’ll be revenged on the whole pack of you” at the end seems to be validated for not a single soul who had done him “notorious wrong” had offered him a sincere apology or a helping hand. His problems are simply brushed off, not even enough to warrant the nobles’ attentions, as seen when Orsino sends Fabian, a servant with no true status, to “entreat” Malvolio to a “peace”. The steward becomes a scapegoat in which all the failings of the anarchic cast are placed upon him. In my humble opinion, Shakespeare intentionally manipulated Malvolio’s fate to spotlight the issue of cruelty that is inherent in our daily lives, even in a world counted as comedic. Malvolio, while not a tragic figure, is a victim of cruelty and proves that savagery in humans can come from anywhere and anyone. His diligence is made fun of and he is punished for essentially ruining others’ delights, without taking into consideration the rationale behind his actions. His judgement was doled out based on a prejudiced view on him and the basis of his imprisonment fabricated. If what Antonio says is true: “In nature there is no blemish but the mind; None can be called deformed but the unkind.” then is it not also true that the perpetrators of his imprisonment are deformed souls and should be punished for their cruelty as well? Someone will always have to suffer in order to keep other people happy, be it at the workplace, in school or even at home. While the person may not be locked up in a dark room, they are the ones who tirelessly sacrifice their time and energy only to be mostly met with nothing but criticism and ungrateful insults. As a student of literature struggling to find footing in today’s backstabbing rat race, meeting such a complex character as Malvolio has assured me once again of the need to examine both sides of a coin before jumping to our own prejudices opinions. I have enjoyed the intricate portrayal of the this character immensely and wish to see more of these dual-edged characters in other works of literature. In conclusion, when we measure a person, we have to measure them right. We have to understand what valleys they have tread and what mountains they have climbed before reaching this point; we have to unearth their intentions before we judge them. Not every villain deserves death, and not every hero deserves glory. Written by: Chin Yunn Rou (6A4) (supervised by: Pn. Suriya Kumari)
78 EXPRESSIONS The Tragedy of Macbeth: A Perspective Dr. Lee Tiang Keng Literature Prize (junior) Often, when we are lost, we search relentlessly for some form of inspiration. For me, when I needed to make sense of my turbulent teenage years, I found some form of solace and inspiration from studying Macbeth. Well, it may seem like a very hypothetical thing to say, considering I’m writing a review on Macbeth, but the reason is actually really plain and direct. At one’s view, we can say that Macbeth actually gives us a reality check in life. People often say we must be ambitious to strive forward but ironically, the drama Macbeth has proven otherwise. Now, do not get me wrong as I’m not saying that we can’t have ambitions. Well, for example, the main theme in Macbeth is “The ambition and greed of men” and the “Downfall of a tragic hero”. William Shakespeare painted a very noble and honourable General in Macbeth that his fall was received with mixed emotions. It made me question the poetic justice behind it. As children of the 21st Century, the need to be ambitious, to work towards that aspired goal, is something that has been ingrained in us since young. So, isn’t it only natural that we try all means possible to achieve that goal? Before I go on further, I should give a summary of Macbeth. Macbeth was a brave and worthy warrior, a Scottish General, who fought hard battles for his country. However, his resolution and loyalty for his King was swayed by the prophecy of The Three Witches, “instruments of darkness” that tell us half-truths only to “betray us in deepest consequences”. The prophecy, in short, was that he will become King. He was then further encouraged by his ever-loving wife, his partner in crime, to commit wrongdoings in order for him to achieve his new goals. Consumed by his “vaulting ambition”, many were sacrificed, mercilessly. Macbeth was at first traumatised after committing the first sin which is murdering King Duncan However, at the end of the drama, he was seen as a tyrant of a King. Macduff, a new-emerging protagonist who was bent on revenge, cooperate with one of the princes, Malcolm to overthrow Macbeth and voila, that’s it! Well, since we are familiar with the plot now, I would like to speak out my mind on a few issues. For example, the role of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Now, this is the reason my entire class could connect and feel the passion in Macbeth in the past one and a half years. It was by far the most interesting piece of literature we have come across. Our class held a trial for the Macbeths, was it his own fatal flaw that brought him to his tragic downfall? How can he defend himself? Or was it the fact that Lady Macbeth challenged his manhood, that brought him to his downfall? Some felt that we needed to bring the Three Witches to be questioned in court, but that application was rejected by our teacher as she says in the 21st Century, a man or woman must stand up for his or her own folly and not blame supernatural elements for their actions. Hence, that discussion was carried out of the courtroom. The court play was hilarious, as Lady Macbeth, fainted a few times, due to her ill state of mind, although her ability to feign faint spells were questioned by some. However, despite the laugh and play, we learnt valuable lessons. The need to take responsibility for our actions, regardless who pushes us to it. Macbeth’s fatal flaw was his own desire for power. Yes, Lady Macbeth may have been more determined and at times, more masculine and decisive than Macbeth when they were on the brink of committing grave sins but doesn’t Macbeth have a mind of his own? He could easily stay true to himself and the country by dismissing firstly, the prophecy and secondly, his wife’s evil plans. To further strengthen this point of view, Lady Macbeth was later seen and displayed as a very weak and fragile lady, both mentally and physically, nearing the end of the drama. We could also point out that she orchestrated only the murder of King Duncan and nothing more. The rest of the murders were committed by Macbeth, the tyrant. We learnt the true meaning behind St. Exupery’s etre homme, etre reponsable, to be man is to be responsible. Our teacher constantly reminded us of this, in view of being remarkable gentlemen of Penang Free School, to uphold the virtues instilled in us by our beloved school. So, how is it that despite acknowledging the fact that Macbeth is responsible for his actions, we still had mixed emotions in seeing him as a
79 EXPRESSIONS I hope that many of the future generations can embark on this beautiful journey as how my classmates and I got the opportunity to study the IGCSE Cambridge Literature programme. I must indeed thank my school for giving me this enriching and edifying experience. I strongly feel that literature can really make things right or at least, be the catalyst in making our nation a much better one. Written by: Darrell Chin Wei Yi (5 Budiman) (supervised by Pn. Suriya Kumari) villain? I felt there were a series of unfortunate events and coincidences that drove him to his tragic flaw. His weakness in the presence of Lady Macbeth, his growing dependence on the prophecies and his own self-absorbed state drove him to his downfall. Also, the fact he fought honourably towards the end, instead of showing cowardice, triggered in me, a renewed awe for Macbeth. I felt empathy for Macbeth in many instances, listening to his inner conflicts via great soliloquys. Despite being a warrior, used to mass killings, his state of distraught and remorse during his first few murders, feeling shame to “wear a heart so white” shows he did have a moral conscience. Would we have done otherwise, if caught in similar circumstances? Would we have chosen a righteous path then? By the looks of how the morality of the world itself is deteriorating and at a new low, I would say not. In my opinion, the worst sin that he actually committed was being too ambitious and that he wanted to change his fate which at any era of life, is a universal taboo. All in all, I really enjoyed understanding and exploring the depth of the drama, Macbeth. In this drama, there is truly more than meets the eye. However, the reason this drama has been able to keep me inspired all these while was that we were able to relate to the characters and the circumstances. It showed me that some issues are universal and transcends time, that even in the present time, we learn of ambitious leaders and their downfalls. The themes in the drama are very realistic and relevant even in today’s world. Like I said at the beginning, I was inspired and was able to relate to Macbeth because he offered me a reality check in life. He showed me that sometimes in life, some things are just not meant to be. We could try really hard and go out of our way in an attempt to realise our unreachable dreams or we can just take an alternative road to a simpler, yet happier life. The drama really got me wondering about this. I enjoyed studying Macbeth, and most importantly, I enjoyed literature to an extent that it has begun to integrate itself in my life. It taught me that everything, no matter how small or trivial, can be seen from a multiplicity of perspectives. It gave me an insight into human nature, understand and question the prejudices and biases in life. To some extent, it also taught me to make sense of my own life, through the lives of the characters that I studied. Sure by Neoh Hao Sheng (4 Cekal) You want me to help carry those books? Why sure, I’d do it for a friend! It’s just a simple task that can be handled Not something that needs me to be gentle So if you ask me if I could help you out, Well sure! I’d do it without any doubts! You want me to do your school chores So that you can get good scores? I’m mean, sure I guess, anything for you, After all, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do For a friend who has been so true Though I’d appreciate it a lot If you could give it a thought About how it’s better if you did it yourself. You want me to go and harass this person To make his feelings and spirit worsen Just because you never liked him? I mean, I don’t like to make him dim But just for you, I’ll say sure, And please don’t make him insecure. You’ve got to be kidding, it can’t be, The boy I harassed lost all hope And tied his throat to a rope! What have you done, how could you?! Now all his loved ones feel so blue And you should feel regret too! Wait, what, my fault? But how could it be? He clearly was the one who asked me This wasn’t how it was supposed to go, Now I have to pay it with my dough, You disgusting rotten piece of cake, I hope you two have a shared fate.
80 EXPRESSIONS Hidden Treasure by Shawn Tan (5 Budiman) I still remember that day like the back of my hand. Dark clouds engulfed the once clear sky and tears kept rolling down my cheeks no matter how hard I resisted. Years of domestic abuse finally took its toll on my mother and drove her to the breaking point. When I got home from school that day, there was a knife plunged into her cold, lifeless body and a handwritten letter drenched with blood beside her. Horrified and disgusted by the gory scene, I immediately fled home. After running for a couple of hours, a horrible realization dawned on me; I was lost both literally and figuratively as there was no sign of civilization anywhere. After what seemed like an eternity, my tired eyes caught sight of a red barn and beside it, an old wooden cottage with dilapidated walls. I hurried to the cottage as quickly as my little legs could take me there. Along the way, there was a corn field which was taller than me, several hay bales rolled and arranged together neatly, a flock of sheep lazily grazing on the large patch of grass that surrounded the barn, a brood of chickens mindlessly pecking the soil and a drove of adorable pigs rolling in the mud surrounding their pigsty. Finally, I reached the doorstep of the wooden cottage. After briefly hesitating to decide whether or not I should knock on the door for help, I mustered the courage to do so. As the door slowly creaked open, my heartbeat thumped louder than thunder and my palms sweated profusely. A young boy dressed in muddy overalls who had round, beady eyes, brown hair and was about the same height as me opened the door and stared blankly at me. My face turned red just like the tomato the boy was eating because I could not find the words to explain my predicament to him. After a brief moment of awkwardness, the boy smiled sheepishly and extended his hand towards me. My heartbeat began to recede and as we shook hands, the boy warmly introduced himself, revealing his name was Jack. “Percy. My name is Percy,” I answered as he asked about me in a curious tone. I proceeded to tell him about my situation and how I ended up here. He took a moment to recollect himself before telling me to follow him, darting off somewhere. He led me to a stable behind the barn. At the stable, there was a myriad of horses and a tall, burly man who stood out among the horses. The way he gently caressed a beige horse while feeding it a carrot despite his muscular figure convinced me that he was a kind man. The boy told the man about me, prompting the man to give me a hug. They invited me to stay with them despite not knowing me intimately because they took pity on me. I gladly accepted their offer without a second thought and for the first time today, the pain and anguish I felt was replaced with a feeling of warmth and happiness. The dark clouds began to clear and a glimmer of light pierced the darkness. Although we were not related by blood, Jack was the closest thing to a brother I had. Over the years, Jack and I became closer and we frequently discussed about the possibility of filthy peasants like us somehow turning our lives around by discovering hidden treasure. One day, we stumbled upon a secret treasure map. We decided to follow the map’s coordinates which led us to a morbid cemetery. The desolate and creepy atmosphere sent shivers down my spine but we still bravely explored the cemetery in hopes of finding treasure, leaving no stone unturned. However, it was all in vain as we failed to find any trace of the treasure. Wanting to catch my breath, I leaned on a tombstone, accidentally triggering a hidden lever that revealed an underground chamber. We were flabbergasted. The chamber led to a dim cavern beneath the cemetery. The sound of water dripping from the ceiling reverberated throughout the hollow cavern and the jagged walls were encrusted with glistening sapphire crystals, emitting a faint but mesmerising blue glow. However, the only thing that caught our attention was the enormous treasure chest sitting across the cavern. Jack recklessly dashed ahead of me, ignoring my protests that it could be a trap. Reaching the treasure chest first, he proudly but slowly lifted the heavy treasure chest. It was at this moment that I knew something dreadful was about to occur. The entire cavern began to rumble violently and from the depths of the cavern emerged a terrible beast. A Leviathan. The colossal, scaly monster roared in anger, furiously swiping its tail
81 EXPRESSIONS Sogno Di Volare by Lekharaaj (5 Cekal) and decimating whatever it touched. We ruled out hiding and made a beeline for the exit. As we ran, the monster swiped its tail at us, barely missing by a hair. Hastily jumping between falling platforms while making my escape, I fell face-first and earned myself a nasty scar on my forehead. I initially struggled to get back on my feet but adrenaline kicked in when I heard Jack cry for help. I was in a dilemma. The treasure chest was sinking in quicksand. So was Jack. I had a choice; obtain riches beyond my wildest dreams or save my friend. “Just leave me! The treasure is more valuable than me!” Ignoring his pleas to abandon him and secure the treasure chest, I rushed to him and pulled him out with all my might. We continued running and barely escaped with the cavern closing in behind us. A second sooner and we would have perished for sure. Thankful but confused, Jack enquired why I chose him over the treasure. “Although we were searching for hidden treasure, the true hidden treasure is our friendship. Nothing can ever replace the unconditional love you showed me when I felt alone in this horrible world,” was my response. The dream of flight, a soaring song amidst the endless night, a dance beneath the stars alight. The dream saw a glimpse of the setting sun, and the watchful moon’s eye, hence it spread its hopes and so did feel, a granted boon, in the light dropped field. But, in the dancing night, Freedom cried, of what the waves tasted and the winds still mourned. The price that’s paid for a simple song. Echoes in the void-less night, the dream took its last first flight, as the dance grew with mad delight, winged fell free from freedom’s plight. Silence reign come the light of morn, for the dream had ended at the break of dawn, Hark! The waves they wept, and the winds they sang a song of sorrow with no end. The dream of flight in the pale moonlight, the winged that danced with wingless chance, and the wings they broke, come the dawn of hope. There again he strikes, Causing trouble and blood pressure spikes, IT came with a hat, And turned us all into cats, Promised a brighter future, But instead delivered a big mixture, Behind our backs, you talked, Making us wanting to walk, Fuelled by passion, Destroyed by suggestions, Literature has taught me well, To get back up, Even though you fell. Conflicts by Noah Chan Borg (5 Cekal)
82 EXPRESSIONS Masks by Derick Tan (5 Budiman) John Doe was never much of a conversationalist; neither was he ever the popular kid. Introverted and soft-spoken, he’s just your average student, with a group of friends he can confide in and above average grades. One day after school, as John called his friend Tiffany, he felt nervous. Tonight was the masquerade dance at his school, and he was asked by his friend, Chelsea to go with her. “What am I supposed to do?” he asked panicked. “Timothy, she’s asked you, just go! What else is there to think about?” Tiffany asked back. John couldn’t even think straight. He had never gone to a dance, let alone a dance with the girl he had feelings for. He didn’t know where to start, what would he wear? Would she like it? Was he supposed to pick her up from her place? What should he do when it starts? What if the situation becomes awkward? He wasn’t even sure if he could dance….. A couple hours later and a few hours to the dance, Donald, John’s friend had shown up to his house to help John. “Here’s a nice suit I borrowed from my brother. Should fit you just nice”, Donald said, handing John a suit that looked more expensive than anything John owned. “Don, are u sure? This looks expensive”, John asked. Donald shrugged him off, put the suit on John’s bed and said “Come on, we only have about two hours before we have to take off. I’m going with Tiff so I can’t be late either”, Donald said as he took out his own suit and they got ready. An hour later, John was looking at himself in the mirror. He had the suit and a nice tie on and felt nervous as ever. What now? As Donald finished up, they walked over to the school and met up with Tiffany who was waiting at the main entrance. “You look great”, Donald remarked to Tiffany as they walked in. John almost stopped as his heart skipped a beat. Chelsea had just come around the corner. Her hair was curled and tied up in a ponytail, she had minimal yet attractive make up on, and a dress that looked astounding on her. John was speechless. “Hey, Tim”, she said upon looking at him “You look…great”. “Y-yyou t-too”, he answered back feeling his face go hot. “Oh, come on guys no need to be shy”, Tiffany said as she yanked both of them towards each other. John was panicking, his heart was pumping and he couldn’t see or think straight. Chelsea looked just as nervous as she put her hand out in front of her and asked if John wanted to go. John moved his shaking hand onto hers as she gripped her hand and pulled John into the hall. John and Chelsea put on their masks as they entered the hall and moved through the crowd. Upon finding a space, they stopped and looked at each other. John saw Chelsea laugh in glee as he started to laugh too. They started to dance together as John continued to question the situation. How can a nobody like him be dancing with this angel? What if something happens? What would people think of him? What would he have to do to let Chelsea accept him? Would his feelings be enough? A while later, talking and dancing had tired them out. Chelsea mouthed that she was going to get some drinks from the refreshments table. She let go of John’s hand and walked through the crowd. As he tried to follow her through the dancing couples, he knocked into someone and his mask fell to the ground. The people around him turned to look at him. The judgemental gazes and murmuring made him feel anxious. He turned around only to see more staring students. He felt alone and different again, just like how he felt years ago. He looked about frantically for his mask without bending down and causing more ruckus. A mask should do it. He just needed to fit in, he just needed to be like them, he couldn’t be himself for the fear that he wasn’t enough. But who was he? He knew he can’t be himself but who was he? He ran off to the space where he and Chelsea had danced. He leaned against the wall and panted out of panic. His breathing became heavier and quicker before he felt a hand on his shoulder. Chelsea came back with Tiffany and Donald in tow. They had the drinks in their hands as Chelsea asked what was wrong. As he felt tears welling up, John blurted out everything he had in mind and before he could finish, Chelsea stopped him. “What are you talking about? Who are you? You’re the guy I liked to the point where I needed thos dance to try to express myself. You’re a kind, caring, sensitive boy that always knew how to help”, as Tiffany added “You are my friend. It doesn’t matter what people think and it doesn’t matter if
83 EXPRESSIONS you’re different. You’re not different and weird. You are unique”. Donald walked up and continued “You are like the brother I never had. You understood me when people didn’t and believed in me when people gave up”. Chelsea then said as she pulled of her mask “You are you. No one can change that and they shouldn’t. I don’t like you for who people think you are. The people around you don’t make you who you are. You are Timothy Fun and no one can change that”. John looked at his friends and understood. He didn’t need to be a John Doe with a mask to fit the expectations of the people around him. He finally looked at Chelsea, thanked her as they took off to the dance floor without their masks. They danced for the rest of the night as Timothy and Chelsea and he knew that he would wake up as Timothy and no one else. They are a rightfully prideful pair, those two; Meeting up frequently in café’s serving burnt coffee. Soap operas of their trysts flit far and wide, Some as bitter as cough drops; some sweeter than toffee. Peter Francis Schumann, being who he is; Is indecisive and overly cautious about current affairs. He lacks the necessary creativity and curiosity, To even build a simple flight of stairs. He spends all his money as quickly as he makes them, Preferring to splurge for the sake of appearances. When lacking, he merely waits to be fed; Snorting at the annual report of several finance disappearances. As he lounges with his protégés in their ivory tower, They comment on the struggles of the almost stagnant traffic crawl. He signs off the cheques and contracts lavishly, Approving of unknown subjects with a trademark illegitimate scrawl. Peter Francis Schumann is a relic from the past, An obsolete Tyrannosaur thinking it’s still the best. And no matter how much the oppressed struggle beneath his yellowed claws, He would not change anything about the condition of his nest. Peter Francis Schumann by Chin Yunn Rou (6A4) Peter Francis Schumann is delusional at best, Basking in past achievements and glories. Inhaling them through his pinched nostrils, Like taking another dose of powder made from poppies. They tell him that it’s over now, He has to move forward with the changing times. But he stubbornly clings to his traditions, His ringing laughter an echoing chime. He still retains his tendency at belittling women, And places the male race on a rotten pedestal. When accused of such atrocious acts, He would say that this isn’t the case at all. He harbours within him denizens of clotted blood, Dripping with glazed hate, bigotry and gallons of greed. He guzzles money from the rich and discriminates against the poor, Survival of the richest is his everlasting creed. His fancy lies with a proper young lady, Charlotte Grace Leigh, who harbours ancient roots. She is of his kind, only haughtier due to her awards; Lazing amongst her mountains of bejewelled gold loot.
84 EXPRESSIONS The Mysterious Library by Chin Chun Yuan (5 Cekal) Kelvin swallowed the building anxiety in his throat and pushed the gates open, which creaked noisily as if it hadn’t been oiled for ages. The Penang National Library is one of the oldest buildings in the state, though Kelvin had somewhat forgotten the date the place was actually built, scrawled lazily somewhere in a notebook back when he was still dozing off in history class. The gravel path beneath him crunched as he trudged towards the main gate. Kelvin smiled, remembering how his father lectured him about how the library used to be an English mansion back in the past. The building was indeed intimidating, looming before him as he approached it with every step. Dead trees grew along the crumbling avenue, and wild yellowing weeds sprung from the dirt and pushed through the crumbling gravel beneath his feet. The only remaining semblance of the echoing former grandeur of the supposed mansion was the grand fountain playing in front of the library’s great oak doors, the water nourishing the moss and ivy that clung to its’ crumbling structure. Ascending the steps and almost tripping on the last one, he cut himself on the chipped stone edges of the stone banister. Lifting the doorknocks carved in the likeness of twin serpents, Kelvin let the metal go with a bang against the wood that rang loudly in the silence of the surroundings. The door opened silently, showing nothing but darkness within. Reaching into his pocket, he stepped inside and closed the doors behind him loosely, plunging his surroundings into impenetrable shadow. Kelvin closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He caught the smell of beeswax polish, the kind used in preservation societies for historic buildings, the musty, unmistakable papery scent of the books that would soon be put under his care, a burst of copal and spice like the shops he used to visit back when he still worked in Australia. But Kelvin was quick to catch a whiff of something that evidently didn’t belong, a coppery scent that tasted sweet iron at the back of his tongue. The scent of blood. Fresh meat, to eat, oh to eat… The witch-blade flashed as it extended from within Kelvin’s sleeves, its cold steel surface glowing a bluish-white light. The creature snarled and backed away, its crimson feline eyes glowing in the darkness with pure malice, fanged jaws twisted in a furious snarl. ‘You know, I’ve done in many vampires over these three years.’ Kelvin said nonchalantly as he playfully tossed the blade in the air, catching it with a skilful air. ‘But you, madam, seem to be the ugliest one of them all!’ He exclaimed. With a furious roar, the creature pounced, falling straight for the trap as Kelvin dodged aside, letting the pounce’s momentum carry the vampire past him and knock open the doors. Sunlight burst into the space, illuminating the grand foyer of the library in the brilliance of the afternoon, the mirror-like surface of the chandelier spraying spots of golden light across the marble floor reminiscent of a disco ball. Kelvin stared in awe at the lifelike portrait of the first Malaysian Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman that hung just above the stairs, paying absolutely no attention to the dying screech of the vampire as it turned into dust. ‘Never seen an elite before, I must say, I’m impressed.’ The boy’s tone was bursting with sarcasm as he emerged from the archway labelled with a copper plaque as the ‘Non-fiction’ section. He slurped noisily as he swallowed the last string of char kway teow from a polystyrene lunchbox, laying his chopsticks down as he stopped before Kelvin. ‘After all, I’m the only one around here.’ His green and blue heterochromatic eyes looking up and down as if he was examining an interesting specimen. ‘Loo, stop playing with the newbie.’ A girl giggled from the bannister on the left staircase, accompanied by a man about his late twenties. Scowling at Kelvin, Loo retreated to stand by the man’s side. ‘A smart move, clean and efficient. You are Kelvin Goh, I presume?’ The man asked, stepping out of the shadows. Kelvin saw he had pink eyes ringed with black, the hallmark of a hybrid, and was impeccably dressed in a formal suit. His hair was mostly black except for the greying at his temples. ‘Yes, sir. I was sent here by the Chairman as a replacement.’ ‘Well, then. I would welcome you into this grand edifice of education, but I’m afraid my schedule does not permit me. Your new colleagues- ‘He gestured to Loo and the girl, who was acting as if she was heinously offended. ‘Who has a name, its Clarissa, but you can call me Clare.’ ‘Yeah, yeah, whatever.’ Loo waved Kelvin off before he could reply, a bored look on his face. ‘Welcome to the Mysterious Library, Mortis Libri, Malaysian Branch.’ ‘And the return date’s 23/1, next week Tuesday.’ Kelvin said, his voice having a bored, read-by-heart quality to them. He watched as the lady walked out of the doors and sat back down at the reception desk. He glanced upwards at the clock, just as it struck twelve. Lunch break. Kelvin reached down
85 EXPRESSIONS to retrieve the oyster omelette he’d brought earlier in the morning. The delicious scent of the eggs wafted out from the lunchbox so strongly he had to look up to check Loo wasn’t watching. He licked his lips as the saltiness hit his taste buds, the burst of juices from the oyster in his mouth. It had been six months since he started working as the borrow/return clerk at the receptionist desk located at the top of the stairs, which always gave him a tingly feeling as he looked up into the Prime Minister’s face, his deeds completely exposed to the stern look of the portrait. But Kelvin never minded, even though the days were slow, but he was always waiting with that gnawing anticipation when night falls and the library is closed. The 13th hour when the Penang National Library becomes the Mysterious Library. The thing he didn’t tell his family about his three years studying overseas was that the scholarship wasn’t provided by Digit at all, but by the Chairman of the Mysterious Library. He had 3000 dollar allowance per month, on the contract he had to work as a librarian for the Australian branch of the Mysterious Library. The training always took place at night, when the libraries served another purpose than being troves of knowledge. Scattered about the world, they were in secret, prisons for supernatural criminals and vaults for magical artefacts too powerful for human hands. Kelvin managed to pass his final exams with distinction and became an Elite, special librarians dispatched to guard or kill high-danger level criminals and guard high security prisons. Every night, Kelvin would wait for the clock to strike twelve before locking up the doors. The 13th hour was a supernatural phenomenon that bridged one day to another, when portals between worlds opened and creatures born of darkness would break free to prey on humans. That was when he would accompany Loo or Clare outside to hunt for the criminals, chaining them to the books that would be stored deep within the library, joining many others that would never escape the watchful eyes of the librarians. The clock struck twelve, signifying midnight, and Kelvin watched as the moon turned a shade of blood red, a greenish tinge spread throughout the black sky. The ticking of his pocket watch stopped, and he heard the hellish giggle that echoed from beyond the gate. ‘Ready?’ Loo asked, his own witch-blade scythe gleaming in his hands, his expression solemn and focused. ‘As always, where’s Clare?’ ‘Still sleeping. Come on.’ He said, pushing the doors open to the fountain that now sprayed black liquid instead of water. ‘We’ve got a nasty jinn raging down Fifth Avenue.’ It didn’t take them long to find it. An elemental of raging fire that charged towards them like an enraged bull. Pulling back, Kelvin flung out his arm, fingers splayed, a flurry of ice shards spearing the magma before instantly evaporating into steam. ‘Ice huh? That’s good to know!’ Loo jeered gleefully, jumping back from a particularly heavy blow to the pavement. ‘Like you’d do any better, bonehead!’ Kelvin retorted and blasted a beam of freezing cold wind towards the creature. The jinn gave a lowing cry like a bull as it crashed to the ground, embers extinguished. Kelvin landed at its head, a smug smile on his face. ‘Beginner’s luck.’ Loo scowled as he pulled out a steel-covered book from the folds of his coat. ‘Incarcerus.’ The body of the jinn dissolved into a stream of letters too numerous to count, and dissolved into the cover of the book like steam as it latched itself shut. Loo looked up to see Kelvin idly in thought, absentmindedly cutting away at some long weeds by the sidewalk. ‘Something wrong?’ ‘I don’t know, but today’s hunt seemed so… easy.’ Kelvin let his voice trail away as Loo stuffed the book back into his coat. He put a hand on Kelvin’s shoulder, a reassuring smile on his face, a far cry from his attitude when he introduced himself. ‘It may be a small achievement, but think of how many lives you’ve saved.’ Loo said. ‘We are chosen because the Chairman saw the potential in us to become librarians for the Library, and no matter how small the kill, no ordinary person could’ve done that.’ ‘What are you saying?’ Kelvin asked, a questioning look on his face as they started up the path back to the library. Above them, the moon was already fading back to gold, and the sound of the watch ticking greeted their ears in the silence. ‘That jinn would’ve harmed many lives if we hadn’t captured it, and no amount of manpower from the government forces would’ve changed that. That’s how important our jobs are, as protectors of the night.’ Loo patted Kelvin’s back, his eyes determined. ‘And that’s why, no matter how small. It keeps our loved ones safe and sound, and that alone is a cause worth dying for.’ Kelvin smiled, none of his past seniors treated him like that. ‘Hey, there’s a new coffee shop that’s opened just nearby Penang Free School. Want to come?’ ‘Sure, if you pay for me that is.’ Kelvin laughed. ‘Sure thing’ He couldn’t wait for the next exciting hunt the following night.
86 EXPRESSIONS An Arthurian Legend during Lunch Break by Danish Imran (4 Cekal) “I see. So that is our situation.” Artoria Pendragon, the famous King of Knights, and wielder of the legendary sword Excalibur, nodded as she assessed the problem she was facing. She has lead Britain’s forces and ruled over Camelot with absolute pride, making no mistake as king. She has fought countless of battles and was feared for her extraordinary skills with her magical sword. And there she was, facing what she thought, was the most important decision of her two lives. I stood next to her (and I’m surprisingly taller), watching her brows furrow with utmost frustration. “You have to make a choice sooner or later, the line-” I began, but the woman clicked her tongue. “Although a king must make important decisions in a short period of time, there are some moments where a long, thought-out decision is necessary.” Artoria shot me a look that might get me on the wrong side of Excalibur. I gulped. “Well, this is something most humans can do fairly easily, I’d say.” The man behind the counter yawned, scratching his messy hair. “Ma’am, you’re gonna have to hurry up and place your order...” “Please wait!” She looked at me. “I need your help.” I rolled my eyes. “I was expecting you to say that quite a minute ago.” “Please! Should I get the Spicy Chicken McDeluxe or the Triple Cheeseburger? I heard many good things about them. Should I go with extravagant hotness with tender, soft meat, or the more royal and superior, with double layers of cheese?” Artoria’s eyes seemed to sparkle as she expressed her...concern. “For the love of the Round Table, Artoria, just pick one!” I glanced back at the ever-growing line behind me. “Wait, what is that? A GCB? Is that good?” The man at the counter blinked slowly. “Uh...yeah, it’s...it’s like, a crowd favourite...or something...look, just hurry up or you’re going to have to step aside...” Poor guy. He looked like he was going to fall asleep standing. Suddenly, a voice erupted from the far end of the line. “Hey, hey, hey! What’s the holdup, huh!?” It was a loud woman’s voice. The owner of the voice kept yelling indecipherable words, probably a slur of inappropriate words in the mix as well, and began pushing forward. “Artoria. You’re making people impatient!” “Wait, Father!?” The woman had made her way to the front of the line, where we were standing. She was blonde, and held her hair up in a ponytail. She wore the type of clothes that might be popular among the kids nowadays. The King of Knights looked up to find her son. “Ah...I see. So here comes another problem.” “What did you just say?” The woman glared at her father, but shied away almost immediately. “Mordred, what are you doing here?” I asked. The Treacherous Knight, King Arthur’s bastard child who was denied her right to the throne, and led a rebellion against her father, eventually causing Arthur’s demise during the Battle of Camlann. And there she was, at the local McDonald’s with us. “Hey, it’s you! Fancy seein’ you here. Worked up an appetite?” she asked, grinning. I nodded. “But I’m waiting for Your Majesty here to place an order.” Mordred laughed. “Hah! Noob.” She turned to the sleepy man behind the counter. “I’ll have the Double Spicy Chicken McDeluxe.” As soon as the words escaped her mouth, Altria’s head perked up. “I’ll have the Double Spicy Chicken McDeluxe.” “Wha-!?” Mordred gasped. “I can’t have the same thing as Father...no, I must rebel him! But I don’t really like anything else on the menu...” she wondered out loud. With an obvious pained expression, she hissed. “Cancel my order, I’ll have two Triple Cheeseburgers.” I raised an eyebrow. “Two?” Mordred nodded. “Yeah, only two. Damn budget.” Only two? Artoria raised her hand. “Bring me three of what I ordered.” Three!? Mordred frowned. “Tch, trying to show off, huh? Mister, gimme four of those cheeseburgers.” Four??? “Hey, isn’t that a bit...” Before I could finish, Artoria slammed the counter with cash. “Five.” Mordred slammed the counter with her wallet. “Six.” Artoria produced a wad of cash from my pocket. “Seven.” Mordred growled. “I’ll take ten.” Artoria, with not a word or even as much as a glance, retorted by throwing a gold bar onto the counter. “As many as you can make.” I widened my eyes and choked on my own surprise. Mordred grinned. “Flaunting money now, eh? Hoho...” Mordred unsheathed her sword, Clarent, and
87 EXPRESSIONS drove it into the counter. “I’ll sell my baby! Give me all that I can buy!” She cackled. I instinctively took at least three steps backwards, in fear of her unleashing her special move, Clarent Blood Arthur. Before I could comprehend the events that unfolded before me, a hooded man appeared next to us. A black hood, with a flash of golden hair. I saw a smirk before he proceeded to, like the other two, slam his hand on the counter. “I wish to have your entire restaurant!” the man proclaimed, with a tone of absolute authority. The hood fell back to reveal the Mesopotamian King of Heroes from an ancient epic... “Gilgamesh!?” I felt like I’d pass out from all these unexpected appearances, but there’s only been two. “What!? “ Artoria jumped back, suddenly wielding Excalibur. “What’s this? A little maiden assuming a battle stance? What are you going to do, fight?” Gilgamesh laughs out loud. Mordred stepped in between them. “Touch my Father, and I will wipe that sorry grin off your face.” “Oho?” Gilgamesh looked down upon her with a condescending expression, his hand on her face to try and push her aside. Mordred bared her fangs, figuratively of course, but in the next instant, she was already biting his hand. The King of Heroes yelped, and as if on instinct, opened his Gates of Babylon behind him, sending a couple of swords flying. The crowd naturally ducked and panicked, as one of the swords went haywire and struck the poor cashier straight in the heart.. is what I would have said if someone hadn’t moved him out of harm’s way. Wearing a staff uniform was....to my surprise, (not really, I need a break) was none other than “Karna!” we gasped. Karna, from the olden Hindu epic of Mahabharata was standing before us, in a McDonald’s staff uniform. “Please be careful. How can I help you?” “Why are you still in character!? “ I just wanted to sit down at that point. The responses, in unison; “Like I said, this restaurant, mongrel.” “As many cheeseburgers as I can buy with my baby Clarent.” “As many Double Spicy McDeluxes as I can buy with my treasury stashed in Camelot.” “You’re not going that far, Artoria?! “ Karna just sighed and pushed some buttons on the cash register. “I’m afraid you will have to state your desired amount in actual numbers, and no, this building is not for sale. Please reconsider your choices.” He looked over our shoulders. “Next!” he called. At that point, nobody really dared to even be in a 5-meter radius of our little group meeting. Karna blinked slowly. What was he, another sleepy cashier? Gilgamesh snorted. “Why, I didn’t ask, I demanded. Now give me Artoria’s heart-!!” he exclaimed. We all stared at him. “I mean the restaurant. I’m starving. And a King needs his food!” Karna blinked slowly. “Why, I didn’t ask, I ordered you to reconsider your terrible choices. If you want to play King and buy this restaurant out then you better have the money to back those sorry words up, because you know what I think? I think I NEED A RAISE!!” Surprised by his sudden burst of anger, I step in. “Look, Artoria and I are trying to get some lunch. We’re starving.” I put on the bravest face I could muster while glaring at multiple people who could skewer me at any time. “Mordred, don’t bring your daddy issues to the table during lunch, people are trying to relax. Gilgamesh, go conquer the rest of the world, destroy it with Enuma Elish if you want, just let us have our lunch. Karna, ask your manager about a raise, and sorry you have to put up with hundred thousandyear old children. And Shuten, look, if you’re going to continue and hide behind the counter, you can stop.” Shuten-Douji, a supposed mythical Japanese demon, was slumped against the back side of the counter, sipping-- no, slurping alcohol in a bottle. “I-d…*hic*...sorry, I’d like to have your heads... now….” The demon girl struggled to stand up, then with much effort, she managed to lean heavily against the wall. “I was joking.” With that, she falls face-first onto the ground. Gilgamesh slams the counter again (poor counter), cracking it in half. “I DEMAND MY ORDER IMMEDIATELY!” he yells, opening the Gates of Babylon as a threat. Artoria clenched Excalibur. Mordred readied Clarent. Gilgamesh looked like he was going to blow the place. Karna sighed. Shuten’s passed out. And I’m ready to run. As I dashed outside, the building exploded with a bright light, sending me flying from the sheer shockwave itself. Over a McDonald’s order...it was truly a battle of gods.
88 EXPRESSIONS The Nobel: Knowledge is Power if Intelligently Directed by Praamod Linganathan (1 Elit) Alfred Bernhard Nobel was born in Stockholm Sweden on 21 October 1833. Interestingly, the date 21st October is very significant to all Frees. In 1864 while Alfred was working on his experiment with chemicals, a deadly explosion killed his younger brother, Albert. He began to continue his work with dynamites and went on to create new types of explosives. He became popular as a chemist, an engineer, inventor and a very successful businessman. He died on 10 December 1896 in the city of San Remo, Italy. He created the Bofors Corporation inventing diabolical weapons of destruction to any countries. As an industrialist, he became very rich and became famous as a merchant of death. One fine day, he realised that war is the horror of horrors, the scariest crime, and bequeathed his fortune to the institute of Nobel Prizes in 1895.We now associate him with the international Nobel prizes for Peace, Physics, Medicine, Literature, Chemistry and Economics. Each prize is worth US1.4 million. Recently, a young 17-year-old girl from Pakistan, Malala Yousafzai, defied the Taliban terrorists and demanded that girls must also be allowed to receive an education. She was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman in 2012. She survived and became internationally wellknown as the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. This should be an inspiration for all of us youths to aspire and know that age should not be a barrier in claiming success. There is an Ultra-Modern Alfred Nobel University in Ukraine and Switzerland, specialising in science, technology, engineering, education, economics and mathematics as well as Masters in Business Administrations. They also have many Ph. D. programmes as well, which are world class. Alfred Nobel knew English, German, Russian and of course, Swedish. He travelled often. He studied Chemical Engineering and experimented with gunpowder, Nitro-glycerine, and manufactured dynamite. These were used in the construction industry and there was a worldwide demand and he became very rich beyond his wildest dreams. He was both a scholar and a gentleman. Later, he formed a company called Bofors building and ALS. The building sells the latest and best instruments, equipment and weapons. The technical efficiency of very sophisticated war and defence items were made and sold to all the governments around the world and he made a vast fortune. He invented dynamites cannons and torpedoes for the Army, Navy, Air force and special guns for the police world, and he made a vast fortune. He invented dynamites cannons and torpedoes for the Army, Navy, Air force and special guns for the police and secret services all over the world for huge profits. Nobelium is an element named in his honour among those tabulated in the periodic table by Dmitri Mendeleev. His knowledge was his biggest asset and power. If mankind wants to flourish with productivity, prosperity and philanthropy, all people from many countries can enjoy working together in the pursuit of knowledge and happiness. At this very moment in time let us all explore the incredible human potentials for a better tomorrow and possibly a brand new Atlantis. It is strange that the man who did the most for the progress of human welfare is also the same person who has contributed the most for the production of weapons of mass destruction in human warfare. Alfred Bernhard Nobel died on December 10 1896 at the age of 64. Before his death, he made a will and testament, a legacy in the form of the Nobel prizes to those for the best human achievements which would make the world a better place for all without prejudice to race, religion or nationality. Every year from 10 of December 1901 onwards, the Peace Prize will be given at Oslo, Norway and the others at Stockholm, Sweden. The award is a certificate of achievement, a gold medal and cash. May the award recipients of the prestigious Penang Free School see 21st October as a day of a stepping stone towards the journey in their quest for the coveted Nobel Prize. May the Force be with us.
89 STUDENT BODIES
90 STUDENT BODIES BOARD OF STUDENT LIBRARIANS BOARD OF ARCHIVES Seated (L-R): Chin Yunn Rou (Discipline Officer), Charissa Ann (Deputy Head Librarian), Patrick Nathan (Head Librarian), En. Tan Swee Guan (Teacher Advisor), Cik Ling Jia Yi (Teacher Advisor), Lewis Lim (Deputy Head Librarian), Mohitha Ramachandran (Secretary), Andreana Tan (Discipline Officer) Seated (L-R): Qurrat-Ul-Ain, Muhd Zulkifli (Secretary), Mohd Nufail Altaf (President), Pn. Saadiah bt Jaafar (Teacher Advisor), Kobiram Manuneethi (Vice President), Nurul Hazwani (Treasurer), Balqish Kariena
91 STUDENT BODIES SKIM PINJAMAN BUKU TEKS KOPERasI SEKOLAH Seated (L-R): Mohd Darwisy, Mohd Faizal (Secretary), Muhd Hafiz Zainudeen (President), Pn. Melati binti Ahmad (Teacher Advisor),Suthakorn Silaporn (Vice President), Muhd Haris (Treasurer), Ahmad Rafaiel Shazani Seated (L-R): Sentoash Naidu (President), Pn. Siti Shakila binti Suhaimi (Teacher Advisor), Pn. Lim Gaik Joo (Teacher Advisor), En. Abdul Samad bin Ismail, En. Omar bin Abd. Rashid, Cik Vijaya a/p Arjunan, Pn. Retnamala a/p Venugopal (Teacher Advisor), Heavendran Thamil Selvan (Vice President)
92 STUDENT BODIES COMBINED SCOUTS COUNCIL SCHOOL BAND Seated (L-R): Lewis Lim, Noah Borg, Kobiram Manuneethi (Chairman), En. Ooi Eng Lye (Teacher Advisor), Pn. Ruby Mangalam Janet a/p David Solomon (Teacher Advisor), En. Yusmadi bin Yusof (Teacher Advisor), En. Mohd Khushairi bin Zainuddin (Teacher Advisor), En. Lim Ah Seng (Teacher Advisor), Mohitha Ramachandran (Vice Chairman), Lukesh Saravanan, Darren Lee Seated (L-R): Ahmad Luqman (Cleanliness), Ahmad Imran (Cleanliness), Derrick Tan (Low Brass Section Leader), Calvin Ong (High Brass Section Leader), Muhd Ikhwan (Senior), Muhd Aizat (Senior Section Leader), Mirza Izani (Asst. Drum Major), Cik Thoh Hui Chin (Teacher Advisor), En. Omar bin Abd. Rashid, En. Leonard Selva a/l Gurunathan (Teacher Advisor), Lexman Raj (Drum Major), Danniel Roshan (Conductor), Uthayakumar Satyaseelan (Low Brass Section Leader), Muhd Mustaqeem (Secretary), Choo Wei Sern Vincent (Treasurer), Muhd Naufal (Fitness Instructor), Afiq Arazi (Quarter Master), Muhd Ezral Hakimi (Librarian)
93 STUDENT BODIES 7TH Gts SCOUT TROOP 1ST Gts SCOUT TROOP Seated (L-R): Wong Ka Hsing, Desmond Yeoh, Kayshav Renganathan, Tristan Yap, Sharran Raaj, Lim Cal Vin (Secretary), Jonathan Joseph (Venture Unit Leader), Noah Borg (Troop Leader), En. Mohd Khushairi bin Zainuddin (Teacher Advisor), Barathraj Muniandy (Asst. Troop Leader), Krishan Renganathan (Asst. Troop Leader), Likyndra Mahindra (Treasurer), Salendren Visvanathan, Noel Jeyasuriya, Marcus Imran Kennedy, Maniarasan Letchumanan, Dheevien Moganan Seated (L-R): Shawn Iznur, Darien Chong, En. Yusmadi bin Yusof (Teacher Advisor), Muhd Rahimi, Suriyha Munusamy
94 STUDENT BODIES ROVER SCOUTS CREW 8TH Gts SCOUT TROOP Seated (L-R): Mohd Izzam, Viikraman Selva Kumar, Jason Tan (Secretary), En. Cheng Chee Choong (Teacher Advisor), En. Ooi Eng Lye (Teacher Advisor), Lewis Lim (President), Ooi Kok Liang (Treasurer), Otheya Kumar Seated (L-R): Ewe Dylan, Lim Yang Zhang (Patrol Leader), Harish Ramachandra (Patrol Leader), Nicolas Cheah (Patrol Leader), Yeoh Teong Yew (Asst. Troop Leader), En. Lim Ah Seng (Teacher Advisor), Darren Lee (Troop Leader), Thum Rie Chi (Asst. Troop Leader), Ryan Kaiern Singh (Senior Patrol Leader), Kushaal Christopher (Senior Patrol Second), Simon Khor
95 STUDENT BODIES RED CRESCENT SOCIETY (UNIT 25) 4TH RANGER UNIT Seated (L-R): Cheah Er Cang, Shane Lim (Secretary), Neoh Hao Sheng (Vice President), Cik Lee Lay Fen (Teacher Advisor), Loo Kee Khien (President), Geremy Tan (Treasurer), Lee Wei Han Seated (L-R): Soo Anne (Patrol Leader), Darshayni Sandiagu (Patrol Leader), Mohitha Ramachandran (Patrol Leader), Devamayi Somasundaram (Commander), Amira Marissa (Treasurer), Loo Fien Nee (Unit Leader), Pn. Ruby Mangalam Janet a/p David Solomon (Teacher Advisor), Pn. Wan Hanun Akmal binti Wan Abdul Aziz (Teacher Advisor), Chin Yunn Rou (Secretary), Lo Lai Imm (Log Book Keeper), Sukerit Kaur (Patrol Leader), Gwenelyn Teo (Patrol Leader), Balqish Kariena (Patrol Leader), Venissa Marie
96 STUDENT BODIES kadet bersatu malaysia KADET Remaja sekolah Seated (L-R): Muhd Akmal, Che Abdul Halim (Treasurer), Muhd Azim Fahmi (Vice President), En. Aminuddin bin Mohd Noor (Teacher Advisor), Muhd Abu Hurairah, Nazmen Zakaria, Muhd Aliff Najmi Seated (L-R): Muhd Hisyamuddin, Mohd Noor Idlan, Muhd Umar (Secretary), En. Mohd Fikri bin Yusof (Teacher Advisor), Muhd Hasef (President), Mohd Naieem, Muhd Irwan Shah
97 STUDENT BODIES KADET pertahanan awam KADET POLIS Seated (L-R): Ammar Mikhail Aamer (Treasurer), Neelan Rajoo, Pn. Nuradila binti Mohd Hussain (Teacher Advisor), Ugendrababu Nookaraju (President), Khuhapreeyeen Seated (L-R): Muhd Nabiel Fiqri, Salman Fareez, Muhd Aizat Zafre (Secretary), Adam Adha (President), En. Husni Zaim bin Md Isa (Teacher Advisor), Tillkumar Subramaniam, Daniel Hakimi (Treasurer), Mohd Sulaiman, An Nazeef
98 STUDENT BODIES PERSATUAN SENI SILAT CEKAK BOYS' BRIGADE Seated (L-R): Muhd Al-Faqihul Aiman (Treasurer), En. Muhammad Hasbullah bin Daud (Teacher Advisor), Ahmad Khairul Hifzam (Secretary) Seated (L-R): Hovan Tan, Darren Teh (Vice President), En. Lim Weng Seong (Teacher Advisor), Tai Yung Ern (President), Patrick Nathan