Anderson School: Celebrating 100 Years Of Nurturing

By Mohd Azril Mohd Annuar

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 4 (Bernama) -- It has been a century since the illustrious Anderson School was established. One hundred years spent nurturing and grooming generations of proud Perakians and Malaysians to step out as leaders in their respective fields.

This year, this historical school which was founded on Feb 6, 1909, thus being one of the oldest in Ipoh and in the country, is celebrating its 100th birthday to commemorate all it has given to society.

Named after the British High Commissioner of the time, Sir John Anderson, the school began as an answer for Malay students who had difficulty finding a place at the prestigious Malay College Kuala Kangsar and whose parents refused to send them to other English schools such as the Anglo-Chinese School for religious reasons.

Steeped in traditions befitting such an old and well-loved school, hockey has always been the game where many Andersonians have found passion for the sport and where many national players such as M. Kaliswaren come from.

The school is renowned as a hockey powerhouse, having won the National School Championships from 1992 to 1996, again defending the title in 2000 to 2004 and still churning out top hockey players for the country.

However, like many colonial schools, sports was not Anderson's only forte as it has groomed many leaders in government, politics, judiciary and corporate sector who have lived and breathed the school motto: "To Strive, To Seek, To Find and Not To Yield".

Some of the luminaries include renowned and respected names such as PNB chairman and former Chief Secretary to the Government Tun Ahmad Sarji, Chief Justice Tan Sri Zaki Azmi, Gua Musang Member of Parliament Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, former Solicitor-General Datuk Haliliah Mohd Yusof, Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Annuar Zaini and cartoonist extraordinaire Datuk Mohd Nor Khalid, better known as Datuk Lat.

Other products of the school have also walked the halls of academia and as the nation's valiant defenders within the armed forces such as the former Museum Negara director-general Datuk Shahrom Yeop and former Air Force chief Lieutenant General Datuk Mohd Yunus Tasi.

In celebrating the school's honoured past and contributions, the Centennial Celebration actually began in February last year with the soft launch and the countdown.

This year�s celebration will begin on Feb 7 at the school field at 11pm and throughout the year there will be many sporting, socio-cultural and academic events and continuing up to Feb 8 next year.

Many of the sporting events will be pitting the current students against their AOB seniors and students from rival schools.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein has agreed to honour Anderson School by launching the Centennial Games at the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Stadium on Feb 8.

On Feb 15, the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah will officially launch the celebrations at the school field which is preceded by a parade from the Ipoh Padang to the school. The launching will be followed by a carnival.

Later that night, the Sultan will be gracing a stage show, supper and fireworks display with his presence.

Anderson School's Royal Centennial dinner will be held on Feb 16 at the Syuen Hotel in Ipoh together with the launching of the "History of Andersonian" book and the Anderson Centennial Personalities Award.

-- BERNAMA


Anderson School Sambut Ulang Tahun Ke-100



Oleh Mohd Azril Mohd Annuar

KUALA LUMPUR, 4 Jan (Bernama) -- Anderson School atau yang kini dikenali sebagai Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Anderson yang terletak di Jalan Hospital di Bandaraya Ipoh, Perak akan menyambut ulang tahun ke-100 penubuhannya bulan depan.

Sekolah ini ditubuhkan semasa pentadbiran British dan dibuka dengan rasmi pada 6 Feb 1909.

Nama Anderson diambil sempena nama Pesuruhjaya Tinggi British di Tanah Melayu ketika itu iaitu Sir John Anderson.

Sekolah Anderson diwujudkan untuk memberi peluang kepada pelajar Melayu yang tidak berpeluang memasuki Maktab Melayu Kuala Kangsar dan keengganan ibu bapa untuk menghantar anak mereka ke sekolah Inggeris sedia ada seperti Anglo-Chinese School.

Antara bekas pelajar sekolah ini ialah Pengerusi Permodalan Nasional Berhad dan bekas Ketua Setiauasaha Negara, Tun Dr Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid, Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz, Ketua Hakim Negara,

Tan Sri Zaki Tun Azmi, Pengerusi Bernama Datuk Seri Mohd Annuar Zaini, Anggota Parlimen Gua Musang, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah dan kartunis Datuk Mohammad Nor Khalid atau Lat.

Sempena sambutan 100 tahun, pelbagai acara akan diadakan bermula 5 Feb ini hingga 8 Feb tahun depan.

Acara sambutan sebenarnya telah pun bermula Februari tahun lepas dengan program prapelancaran dan sebagainya.

Sultan Perak Sultan Azlan Shah dijadual melancarkan acara perasmian pada 5 Feb yang akan dimulakan dengan acara perarakan dari Padang Ipoh hingga ke sekolah tersebut dan disusuli dengan pelbagai acara karnival.

Pada sebelah malam, baginda dijadual berangkat untuk menyaksikan pertunjukan pentas dan persembahan bunga api.

Menteri pelajaran Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein pula dijadual melancarkan acara sukan di Stadium Hoki Sultan Azlan Shah pada 8 Feb.

Acara makan malam pula akan diadakan pada 16 Feb yang akan diserikan dengan majlis penyampaian anugerah dan pelancaran buku "History of Andersonian".

-- BERNAMA