PROFIL SEKOLAH

Anglo-Chinese School of Penang (ACSP) was founded on May 28, 1891 by a missionary, Mr. B. H. Balderstone. From its humble beginnings a rented house in Carnarvon Street with a lone student, the school soon expanded to six shop houses by 1893. After the resignation of Mr. Balderstone due to medical reasons, efforts were made by Rev. Pykett to purchase a site at Maxwell Road (where KOMTAR is currently located) on April 6, 1895. Subsequently, a modern school building was erected at Maxwell Road at a cost of $21,000. As the enrolment continued to grow, this building, too, became overcrowded. Another 10 shop houses along Penang Road were purchased. The exemplary leadership of Rev. Pykett was rightfully recognized in our School Song as “the man who blazed the trail”.

Under Rev. Peach, ACSP was divided into three units: Primary (at the rented premises of No. 422 Chulia Street), Middle at No. 193 Hutton Lane that belonged to Mr. Lim Lean Teng) and High (at Maxwell Road). In 1929, Rev. Peach acquired the historic Suffolk House (popularly known as Captain Francis Light’s House) for $40,000 to accommodate the High School. The playing field, named Madam Khoo Guat Lee Playground, was given by Mr. Lim Cheng Teik in memory of his beloved wife. The Mission, then, began to look for a better site for the Middle School and the present site at Pykett Avenue was acquired in 1937 by Bishop Edwin F. Lee for the primary and elementary classes. The contributions of philanthropists Mr. Khoo Hun Yeang, Mr. Foo Choo Choon and Mr. Khoo Cheow Teong were duly honoured with Sports Houses in their names.

In 1953, it became necessary to look for a new building for more accommodation and better teaching facilities. In June, 1955, the first new block of 12 classrooms was completed at the present site. It was formally declared open by the then Commissioner-General for South East Asia, the Rt. Honourable Mr. Malcolm MacDonald, and dedicated by Bishop R.L. Archer on 6 June 1955. On December 16, 1956, another phase complete with science laboratories, art room, library, Shaw Hall, teachers’ room and 14 classrooms was added.

In 1964, the Lee Kuo Chuan Building was erected. It housed the present library, an art room and an air-conditioned theatrette. A new canteen was completed in 1975 while a bell tower commemorated the school’s centenary in 1991.

The first decade of the new millennium saw the completion of an iconic MBS Arch, a modern lecture hall, a sixth form building, a living skills’ block, a covered multi-purpose walkway, a gazebo and a computer laboratory. Philanthropists and true-blue old boys Dato’ Ong Boon Kheng, Dato’ Seri Kalimullah Masheerul Hassan, Mr. Sonny Tan Chooi Chuan and Dr. Lee Keat Jin contributed generously to the school’s development. Alumni Dato’ Lim Cheng Chuan (Board Chairman), Tan Sri Dr. Sak Cheng Lum, Dr. Cheah Hock San, Dr. Fong Kheng Phoy, Dato’ Vaseehar Hassan and a host of old boys all rallied to their alma mater’s call from time to time. Architects Mr. Oh How Tat and Mr. Koay Kean Eng donated their professional services. Current projects include a Sports Pavilion, a counselling centre and a covered riverside recreation area. The basketball courts, the school canteen, the tennis court and the school field will be upgraded.

It is a matter of great pride to the School that many outstanding citizens have been old boys of the School leaving their indelible marks in the annals of our 122 years’ history. Amongst these are YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia and YAB Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon who was the third Chief Minister of Penang. Badminton greats Tan Aik Huang, Tan Aik Mong and Teh Kew San, Cabinet Ministers Dato’ Seri G. Palanivel and Dato’ Seri Azmi Khalid and internationally renowned artist, Abdullah Ariff are also in this illustrious list. The School has traced over one hundred and sixty old boys who are captains in their respective fields and they are all honoured in our School’s Hall of Fame, located in the MBS Heritage Centre.

Today, MBS Penang is a Grade A partially aided government school with a staff of 120 and a student population of 1,450. It seeks to be a “School of Choice” for the youth of Penang.