By Amy Abdullah Barry

I am thrilled and privileged to be included on the MBS Hall of Fame recently, among whom on the list are Tun Abdullah Badawi, our fifth Prime Minister, and Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon, Penang’s third Chief Minister.

Mr. Ooi Gim Ewe, teacher & Student Affairs Senior Assistant, explains,

“The MBS Hall of Fame is the main attraction of the MBS Heritage Centre. It spans a floor space of nearly 2,000 sq.ft. The hall provides an all-encompassing experience for over 220 of the school’s most illustrious alumni.

“These famous sons and daughters from different eras have made an impact in diverse fields such as entrepreneurship, academics, sports, welfare, art, literature, civil service, and even beauty pageants. Many are now captains of industry and government, who contributed to the nation’s well-being and image.”

Methodist Boys’ School Penang, founded on May 28th, 1891, conceived the idea to showcase the pictorial record of the school’s rich legacy and diverse achievements in Dec 2009.

The idea became a reality when the family of the late Dr. Cheah Hock San, an alumnus who served on the School Board for nearly four decades, donated generously to the cause.

Arthur Khoo Hock Cheng, a former principal, and Loh Keng Aun, a retired United Nations senior officer, also contributed to the setup. The MBS Heritage Centre was officially opened on Sept 10, 2010.

The school has produced three world-class badminton champions – Thomas Cup Winner and Captain, Dato’ Teh Kew San, All England Champion, Dato’ Tan Aik Huang, and Asian Champion, Tan Aik Mong. The trio has taken the badminton world by storm, stamping their dominance on every continent.

Internationally acclaimed artist Abdullah Ariff was the “Doyen of Malaysian Art” in the 1950s and 60s, while emeritus Bishop Dr. Hwa Yung is a former bishop of the Methodist Church in Malaysia.

Others include Datuk Mohaiyani Shamsudin, the first Malaysian woman to helm a Fortune 500 company (Maybank), Dato’ Seri Kalimullah Hassan, a writer, investment banker, and deputy chairman of the NSTP Group, and Adjunct Yale Professor Dr. Lee Keat Jin, a world-renowned laryngologist.

The school has also produced top NASA engineers, internationally acclaimed academicians, two mayors of Georgetown, international beauty queens, Olympians, award-winning Literati, cabinet ministers, a deputy air force chief, a state police chief, CEOs of large corporations, and many others.

Mr. Ooi adds, “MBS is confident to unearth more luminaries from all corners of the world.”

I am so grateful to be showcased on this pictorial record. It has been one of the greatest sources of pride in my life. Ribuan Terima Kasih MBS!

Award winner Amy Abdullah Barry originally from Penang, now lives in Athlone, Ireland. She is published widely. Featured in Breaking Ground Ireland. Her poems have been translated into many languages. Chosen for the Poetry Ireland Introduction Series 2022. A travel lover, she previously worked in the media, hotel, and energy industry. Amy has been awarded literature bursaries from the Arts Council and Words Ireland. She is a professional member of The Irish Writers Centre and, an Honorary member of the Pablo Neruda Association, Italy. Amy is the founder of Global Writers. She has performed her work in Ireland and internationally.