A Brief History
Introduction
The discovery of tin in Malaya in the late 19th Century brought many Chinese migrant workers from China, who came not just with their skills but also their faith, Christianity, across this land. In Seremban, this community often met to worship in a small building near the then Convent School along Birch Road (Jalan Bandar Tunggal).
With the increasing influx of these migrant workers; many of them settling permanently in Malaya, particularly in Seremban and Lukut ; there arose a dire need of education for their children.
The introduction of English Medium Education in Malaya during the period. Saw a widespread of school being set up by Christian missionaries and education flourished throught out the country. The Anglo Chinese School Seremban, began its humble landmark journey in 1915 upon the request of these Chinese migrants to the Methodist Mission of Malaya to set up a Missionary School in Seremban.
The school began operating from a small shop house with Chief Inspector Bailey, a Christian missionary, who at that time was serving with the Methodist Mission in Seremban. The school started off with only 17 students and 6 teachers using the English Language and the Chinese Language as the medium of instruction. The teachers salaries as well as the maintenance of the school were borne by the committee of the Chinese community until the Methodist Mission of Malaya took over this responsibility.
A building Fund committee which comprised of renowned Chine businessman was set up in Seremban to oversee to the building of the ACS School. The initial locality of the school, as planned, was next to the present day railway station. However, this was not feasible. Hence, a plot of rubber estate land was purchased in a new locality in Lintang Road where the school now stands.
The main school building, which also served as the administrative centre, was built in 1916 through the efforts of British Christian missionaries and began operating as a school went Reverent T.R Jones was appointed as the first school Headmaster. It facilitated six classrooms with a teaching staff comprising of three Christian missionaries and other local teachers. This block is today named the ‘Jones Block’ and it is the heartbeat of the school as it serves as the main administrative centre.
In 1917, Rev T.W Bowmar, who at that time was serving in Port Swenttenham (Klang), was appointed the second Headmaster of ACS Seremban . During his tenure, he spearheaded the building of the right wing block in 1925, which became the extension of the original main building. This new block was also used as the school hall. T.W Bowmar, initiated frequent staging of school dramas and plays in order to raise funds for the expenditure incurred in the building of this block. The Chinese committee meanwhile, continued their fundraising projects as executed by them initially.
In 1927, the left wing block was added to the original building. This new wing had four additional classrooms to the school which resulted escalating enrolment figure. Contrary to the norm, ACS was the only co-educational school at that time. In 1928, ACS began publishing its very own school Magazine, ‘The Silent Signpost’.
In 1941, the ‘ACS School Song’ was first sung. The lyrics were written by Mr. Yong Yew Kim to the tune of Adam Gabriel’s 1904 ‘Marching Heroes’. This School song is still sung today during the weekly school assembly and other official functions.
During the Japanese Occupation from 1942 – 1945, the school underwent temporary closure as ACS was seized by the Japanese who used it as their operation centre when their soldiers were stationed here. During the period, the Japanese reduced everything to ashes that which our founding fathers had toiled so hard to acquire. These included all furniture, students books, library books, precious student records and document and the priced school piano. One of the teachers, Mr. A.T Kulasingham, negotiated with Japanese to have the school reopened; to which the Japanese complied. However, it was again shut down within three months because of the ‘Nipponnization’ policy. The Japanese army renamed ACS, ‘RENABOJO’ and the school became training centre of the Japanese Language to the local residents. In 1944, ACS was used as the Civil Law Court by the Japanese.
On 26th September 1945, upon Japan’s surrender in the Second World War, Mr. Yong Yew Kim, the senior most teacher, was appointed the Headmaster of ACS while Mr. A.T. Kulasingham was appointed the Assistant Headmaster. ACS reopened on 18th October 1945; however, lessons resumed in the church premise as the British army had occupied the school as their operation centre.
The Anglo Chinese Combination School, a special afternoon session school which catered for over-aged students, began on 14th January 1946. This special School had six classes; four classes for Primary Education and two classes for Secondary Education. The school in later years was known as the Seremban Methodist School.
ACS SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT
The end of the war was a refreshing start for ACS. In 1947, REV. P.H. Schmucker was appointed the new Headmaster of the school. His immediate task was to prepare the groundwork for the primary school with the financial aid channeled in from America. The new primary school block was built during tenure as school head. From 1948-1952,REV. C.D. Ingerson led the school as the Headmaster. The academic subject, General Science, was included in the school curriculum in 1948. The following year, on 11th June 1949, the Anglo-Chinese Old Student’s Association was formed. In 1951, the first batch of Senior Cambridge students took General Science as additional examination subject in the Overseas Senior Cambridge Examination.
In 1952, Mr Yong Yew Kim was again appointed as the Headmaster ACS and in 1954;he laid the foundation stone for renovation works in the old building before officially retiring from office in1955.With the retirement of Mr. Yong Yew Kim, the new headship fell on Mr. Ngui choon Jin, who continued the building works effort as initiated by helped facilitate student growth in ACS. The building was fully completed in 1956.On 20th July 1956, the school was officiated by the Negeri Sembilan Ruler, HRH Tuanku Sir Abdul Rahman ibni Al-Marhum Tunku Muhammad Shah, K.C.M.G.
The first parent’s Open Day in ACS was held in 1957 and the following year, 1958, was historic too as ACS officially split into two separate entities; primary and secondary school Headmaster. Teachers and independent administration. The new Primary School Headmaster was Mr. S Veerapan while the Secondary School continued to be headed by Mr. Ngui Choon Jin.
With ACS becoming two separate entities, that same year, the Board of Managers was formed and given the empowerment to oversee to issues pertaining to the management of the Primary School. The Secondary School, meanwhile, had its own Board of Governors for the same purpose. Both these schools were officially renamed as the Anglo Chinese Primary School and the Anglo Chinese Secondary School respectively. In 1960, mr Ngui Choon Jin initiated the building of the Kindergarten block and the Methodist Afternoon School (MAS). In 1961, the school magazine, ‘ The Silent Signpost’ was officially renamed ‘ The Signpost”.
After Mr. Ngui Choon Jin’s tenure as Headmaster, REV. S.T. Peter Lim became the newly appointed Headmaster of the Anglo Chinese Secondary School until 1965.In that year too, the Methodist Afternoon School moved to their newly acquired own premise behind the ACS school. The School was officially renamed Methodist High School.
In 1965, Mr.Ngui Choon Jin was reappointed as the Headmaster of the Anglo Chinese Secondary School; taking over the headship from Rev.S.T. Peter Lim. In that year to, ACS celebrated its Golden Jubilee in a grand scale. After the Jubilee Celebrations, Mr. Ngui’s immediate task was to raise funds for a new Science Block.In 1968, this task was fulfilled and the new Science Block was declared open 0on 20th November 1968 by the Minister of Education, Mr Khir Johari. This new building included four classrooms, the Physics laboratory and the Domestic Science Room. In 1970, extension works of three storey building was added to this new Science block. The building works were completed in July 1971.This three storey building accommodated the School Library, a classroom for teaching of Commerce, and a new Science Laboratory. This additional building was declared open by Mr. Haji Hamdan, a representative of Minister of Education.
In mid – 1972, Mr.Ngui Choon Jin moved permanently to Singapore and while awaiting his post to be filled, the Assistant Headmaster, Mr.Chandrasegaran was made the Acting Headmaster. Meanwhile, Mr.Lim Leng Lee, who was previously the Headmistress of the Methodist Girl’s School Malacca, was appointed the new Headmistress and became the first and only lady to lead ACS till today.
In 1977, both the Anglo Chinese Primary and Secondary school were officially renamed Methodist (ACS) Primary School and Methodist(ACS) Secondary School respectively. The name ACS was retained in brackets so that its original name was not forgotten. Due to unknown reasons, the ACS school magazine, ‘The Signpost’ ceased publication beginning 1980. In 1990, ACS celebrated its Diamond Jubilee in a comparatively moderate scale.
In 1994, The ACS 1945 acre school field; a property of the church, was bought over by the Negeri Sembilan State Government for development. During that year too, the secondary school ‘Living Skills Workshop’ was built in the land space of the school workers quarters. The building was declared open by the Acting Principal, Mr. Haji Mohd Amin bin Ahmad.
In 1996, under the Headship of Mr. Peter Lee Chin Teck and the Senior Assistant 1, Madam Latifah bt Mohd Rashid, the secondary school teachers room underwent a massive turnover, complete with air conditioners. The school office was also given a new mezzanine floor where all school printing works were carried out. In 1997, the School Operational Room (Bilik Gerakan) was built within the original school administrative building. In that same year too, ACS was once again renamed as Methodist(ACS) National Type Primary School and Methodist(ACS) National Type Secondary School respectively (Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Methodist ACS and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Methodist (ACS).
As Muslim student enrolment increased, there arose a need for teaching of Islamic Studies as well as a room for Islamic prayers to be performed by both Muslim teachers and students. Hence, in 1998, building renovation works were made to the classrooms nearest the General Science Laboratory Preparatory Room behind the administrative building building to facililitate the Kamar An-Nur Room. Meanwhile, the new three storey block which was built in 1971, also underwent massive renovation whereby, the School Library space was widened to include a new Multimedia Room.
On 29th March 1999,Mr Peter Lee, the longest serving Principal of ACS, retired after 22 years at the helm. On 1st May of the same year, the post was filled by Mr. Chor Swee Meng, a long time teacher of ACS, who had also previously held the positions of Senior Science Teacher, the Senior Assistant of Student’s Affairs and the Senior Assistant of the Afternoon Session.
As the new Principal, Mr. Chor swee Meng worked vigorously for the building of four new reading and recreation sheds for students in strategic locations around the school. He was also instrumental to the building of the left wing roofed school pavilion facing the administrative block. In 1999, Mr.Chor, added roofed walkways connecting the School Security Centre to the new block as well as another walkway connecting the new block to the new pavilion. He also reactivated the ACS School Management Board which had been dysfunctional for along period of time. During his Headship too, the ACS Old Student’s Association (ACSOSA) was recreated and membership escalated at an alarming rate. Mr. Chor Swee Meng also helped revive the publication of the school magazine,’The Signpost’, which subsequently released its first edition after a long absence of 20 years.
In 2001, Mr Chor Swee Meng spearheaded the building of the right wing school pavilion with the collaboration of the ACS Primary School and the PTA of both the PACS Primary and Secondary Schools.
The year 2002 was significant for ACS; among other things, Mr. Chor’s cheer song, entitled, ‘Victory Quest’, was aired for the first time on 4th March, on 23rd March that same year, the 26thPTA General Meeting was officiated by the Minister of Negeri Sembilan, Datuk Seri Utama Tan Sri Mohd Isa bin Haji Abdul Samad. On 8th November 2002, Madam Susan Chan Soo Fon retired as the Senior Assistant 1 after serving in ACS as an ordinary teacher as well as Senior Assistant of Student Affairs. Thereafter, on 16th November, Mr. Vincent Lee Beng Saik was appointed the new Senior Assistant 1.Anew post, the Senior Assistant of C0- Curricular Affairs was filled by Mr. Ng King Hiong.
On 19th February 2003, Mr. Chor Swee Meng retired and the principal’s post was filled by Mr. Thong Kok Chaw, who officially took office on 15th May 2003.Within a few weeks of the headship, ACS organized the 2003 Negeri Sembilan State Level Music Fiesta for Secondary Schools.
Under Mr.Thong leadership, ACS underwent massive transformation in term of school facilities as well as infrastructure. He turned around the inside of the physical structure of ACS; improving existing facilities as well as adding new ones for the benefit of both students and teachers alike. To begin with, he shifted the School Office to the left side of the administrative building which was previously the School Dental Clinic and the School Book Shop. The old office space was renovated into glass cubicles for the school counselors and the school discipline teachers. The dental clinic was moved to the ground floor of the new Science Block. The School Cooperative Shop, meanwhile was moved to the former School Discipline Room in the Science Block. A new partition within the teacher’s room was also erected accommodate the Heads of Departments in their own separate space. A male students toilet was built and improved using the previous premise of the School Scouts ‘Room and the Prefects Room’. A new Living Skills Workshop was built to replace the old workshop. The vacant land space between the Science Block and the old Kindergarten Block was utilized to the optimum with the building of the Methodist Centre to cater for student activity outside school hours.
On 3rd March 2005,Mr. Khoo Yee Kong, replaced Mr. Wong Ah Hen when the latter retired as the Senior Assistant of the Afternoon Session. Mr. Khoo served in ACS from2005 until his retirement on 6th August 2009.On 4th April 2008, the Senior Assistant 1, Mr. Balaspramaniam s/o Kalliapan retired and his post was filled by Madam Chuan Teik Mei who took office on 16th April 2008.Madam Chuan Teik Mei retired on 3rd August 2015 and her post was filled by Madam See Bee Ean who had served as the Senior Assistant 1 in SMK Tunku Kurshiah; Kuala Pilah. During the same period, Madam Ooi Sow Lay was appointed as Senior Assistant of Students Affairs. On 16th August 2009, Mr. Chang Van Leong was appointed the new Senior Assistant of Co-Curriculum Affairs, shortly after the retirement of Mr. Ng King Hiong in November 2009.
The physical development of ACS and improved infrastructure continued to escalate during Mr. Thong’s tenure as Principal. With precision planning, he spearheaded the productive use of the deserted swampy land space with the building of the Co-Curriculum activity Centre (Pusat Kegiatan Kokurikulum).This multipurpose hall was officiated by the Chief Minister of Negeri Sembilan, the Honourable Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad b Haji Hassan on 10th May 2010.
In 2013, the Audio Visual Room was built from the extension of the first floor of the Jones Block. The Discipline Room, the PTA Shop and the School Cooperative Shop were built on the extension of the Schumucker Block. The Music Room; and addition to the Co-Curriculum Activity Centre was built in 2013.
The School Scouts Room, the Co-Curriculum Store, the Textbooks Scheme Room and a male students toilet were also built within the land space of the Co-Curriculum Activity Centre. The ingenious building of these facilities in an acutely land starved ACS, marveled many visitors and past students.
Mr. Thong was also instrumental to the building of the new wing of the staff room to cater for the expanding teaching force. This new wing accommodates a School Pantry, the School Resource Room, the well-equipped Signpost Room and the tight security Examination Room. Within the main staff room, both the Ladies and Gent’s Washrooms were also upgraded with better facilities. Improvements, changes and transformations of the school were progressively constant as the years went by.
During Mr. Thong’s tenure, the various school blocks were given proper identifications and the year they were built based on the names of the early principals who played major roles in shaping the history of the school. These blocks were named: Schmucker, Jones, Bowmer, Bailey, Ngui Choon Jin, Nga Been Houn and the Yong Yew Kim block.
The School Sports Houses too were renamed after our pioneer principals and are now known as Jones, Summers, Bailey and Bowmar House; each with their respective new logos as well.
At the time of Mr. Thong’s retirement, the school infrastructure was complete except for a school field. His aspirations and visions for ACS to be on the same platform with other schools in terms of facilities and infrastructure had been accomplished during his tenure here. These also included the Sports Equipment Store, the ICT and Multimedia Room, a well-equipped and spacious School Library, the beautiful and refreshing ACS garden and a comfortable Reading Coener nestled in greenery. Trees and colourful plants all around the school transformed it from a concrete landspace into a refreshing and conducive environment. Owing to our compact locality and gross lack of space. Mr. Thong’s vision of having a school field was unattainable. Mr.Thong Kok Chaw retired on 25th November 2015. On 16th may 2016, history was recreated when Miss New Ah Kow took the post as principal of ACS ; the only second lady to fill this position since 1975.ACS celebrates Miss New’s coming with great aspirations and hope for transformation.
Afternoon Supervisor, Mr Chang Van Leong, retired optionally on 1st June 2017.His post was filled in by Mr.Revichandran s/o Gopalan on 16th July 2017. Our senior Assistant of Co-Curriculum affairs,Madam Surinder Kaur d/o Pritam Singh retired on 2nd November 2018 and the post was filled in by Mr. Mohd Kamis bin Abdul Wahab.
Our principal Miss New Ah Kow, who held the post from 16 May 2016, retired on 15 March 2019. The post was eventually filled in by Mr. Revichandran S/O Gopalan on 15 April 2019. The post of the afternoon Supervisor, held by Mr. Revichandran S/O Gopalan was filled in by Dr. Leong Mei Wei on 16 May 2019.
Written, Translated and adapted by:
Miss Indradevi S.Sethupathy
Source : Article by Miss Lan Poh Chin
The Signpost 2014
Reference : Article by Madam Hajah Rosemah bt Wan Deim
The Silent Signpost & The Signpost (1946-1980)
History of the Establishment of School in Negeri Sembilan (1972)
SMK METHODIST ACS (M)
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