MCKK Life: 2015

Saturday 24 January 2015

MCKK Prep School

Google map of Kuala Kangsar

Kuala Kangsar is small town besides Perak River - a short drive north of Ipoh via North-South highway about 240km north of another Kuala, Lumpur. It's prominence in being the abodes of Perak royalty located southern-hilly part of the town, Bukit Chandan and of course the Malay College of it's namesake across acres of green fields only a few hundred meters away from town center.

Established more than a hundred years ago, MCKK was modeled after it's famous sister-college, Eton of Berkshire England. However Eton has been in existence for more than 575 years, and it has educated nineteen Prime Ministers for Britain, whereas MCKK has only a sole Prime Minister to show-off, albeit half of the period since 1905 was under colonial stewardship.

Sultan Idris of Perak offered the land to build this college in Kuala Kangsar within a short distance of soon-to-complete railway line between Penang and Johor, thus enabling a convenient transportation of students from the Malay states to college.

Kuala Lumpur was surely offered by Sultan Alauddin of Selangor as another consideration and it would be the more favorable location as being centrally located - had it not been for the long unrest of the Chinese communities to establish its Kapitan running decades earlier on that swayed the decision to build the college in Kuala Kangsar. Otherwise the famous abbreviation would be MCKL instead - that's outright preposterous ...!

Prep School layout - playing field to the right belongs to SM Clifford

Medan Pelajar below & Cafeteria above - notice the clock tower behind!

Medan Pelajar - Students Center

Courtyard concept planning throughout

Cafeteria - notice the trim and dapper seniors.

Family members joining in the Cafeteria spread.

More courtyard planning

Entrance to Hargreaves Hall

Medan Pelajar & Cafeteria - view from Hargreaves Hall

Corridor - drying lines and shoe racks.

Cement courtyard instead.

View from corridor overlooking SM Clifford playing field and town.

Entrance road from main gate.

Another shady big tree scene for the romantics.

Friday 23 January 2015

Dormitory

The distinct feature of the college building is the Big School, a building with pseudo Greco-Roman architecture with a huge rugby field in front. The Prep School, built later in 1912, has similar impressive features of Roman neoclassical design totally influenced by British Architects of that era.

The large casement windows framed both sides by plastered cornice works arched almost to ceiling level with thick brickwalls give the mansion ambiance to this dorm. Large timber barn-like doors and dark timber floor boards and stairs further enhance the grandeur of hostel living that will forever etch into the boys memory.

Dentils along the cornice top and elaborate balustrades with Roman column with pediments and raised pedistals add charm to the building. Together with the clay roof tiles with protruding vent blocks can only describe the unique quarters that our colonial designers had in mind for a living experience fit for the upper class of yesteryears.

Covered Walkway to Toilets

Covered walkway to Dining Hall

Two-Storey Hostel

Balcony wide enough to drive Myvi through

Barn shutter doors Comfort to the students with high ceilings, wide corridors to shade from the sun and alrge green open spaces.

Dorm D - see how high the ceiling is...!

Seniors demonstrating to a freshie on how to set the bed MCKK-way.

Affable family across the aisle.

And the cupboard is full ..!

Sunday 18 January 2015

Principal Welcoming Address

Hargreaves Hall named after the founding headmaster of MCKK - Mr. William Hargreaves - came to life after 11am as new students and parents gathered to hear welcoming speech from current principal YBrs Anand Baharuddin. The unassuming hall was located across a large neat grass enclosed-courtyard.

Hargreaves Hall

Tiered hall with balconies on both sides.

Both sides of the hall were filled with college award and honors to past students as well as academic achievements of the school to inspire students and lecturers alike of the long successful college traditions. At the back wall above the entrances were portraits of past principals - as a reminder to the viewers of the pioneering spirits of success and leadership principles - that will continue on to the current generation.

Right side - SPM academic achievements since 1993

PMR achievements - that has ended.

Left side - student roll of honors.

Scholar of the Year - you really can't beat that...!

Principal Anand Baharuddin gave a resounding welcoming speech.

Principal Anand laid down the roles parents can play in monitoring their children progress in college. He guided the anxious audiences on obvious expectation of students achievement and leadership and/or moral upbringing of college boys. All round activities will be conducted on students to focus their minds on college principles and away from homesickness. He also reassured parents that the wardens will play more than counseling roles for the boys to fit in to college dormitory living. For obvious reasons, rules had to be set out and followed.

Tan Sri Sanusi Junid - an old boy himself - gave an amusing anecdote of his registration way back in1957. Tan Sri Sanusi was in attendance to enroll his grandson for this intake. Around 1pm the ceremony ended and we ushered ourselves to the Dining Hall across the old academic wing towards the hostel. A simple lunch for all students, parents, grandparents and siblings to experience that now officially Budak Kolej will endure for the next five years.

Dining Hall Prep School

Registration Day

We all woke up by 5.30am on registration day with barely a few hours of sleep among us either due to anxiety or excitement in accordance to our age. Mom stacked all documents as Kakak took care of the bags to the car. By 6am we began our journey to Kuala Kangsar.

Itinerary of Registration Day

The college duly circulated information via it's website of registration day, guidelines to student's items that can be purchased at school, items that are not allowed and brief description of student daily activities and regulations.

We arrived to the immaculate prep school compound around 9.30 after brief stopover at Tapah rest area. The crowd had arrived well ahead of us as we got our way to Medan Pelajar.