All photos belong to Areca Books.

First posted on the Areca Books Instagram page, 11 February 2026.

Lim Kee Jin: Doctor and Mentor is now available on Areca Books’ website and in-store.

The post George Town Literary Festival (GTLF), 29 November 2025 appeared first on Areca Books.

The book was launched by YBhg Professor Datuk Syed Mohamed Syed Ibrahim, President and Chief Executive of Johor Corporation (JCorp) and Chairman of KPJ Healthcare University, who spoke about Dato’ Dr Lim’s life and legacy as a visionary physician, mentor and institution builder whose values continue to shape KPJ Healthcare today. He also highlighted how KPJ’s evolution into an integrated Academic Health System reflects the fulfilment of Dato’ Dr Lim’s belief in excellence, learning and service to society, strengthened through Centres of Excellence and global collaboration.

The event featured sharing sessions by YBhg Tan Sri Datin Paduka Siti Sa’diah Sheikh Bakir, one of KPJ’s pioneers, and by Datin Patricia Lim Pui Huen, author of the book and wife of Dato’ Dr Lim, who shared personal reflections on his life, mentorship and enduring legacy.

The launch brought together KPJ’s past and present leaders, honouring those who shaped its beginnings and celebrating the spirit of mentorship and innovation that continues to guide the organisation today.

All photos belong to Johor Specialist Hospital.

First posted on the Johor Specialist Hospital Facebook page, 11 February 2026.

Lim Kee Jin: Doctor and Mentor is now available on Areca Books’ website and in-store.

The post Launch of “Lim Kee Jin – Doctor and Mentor” at Johor Specialist Hospital appeared first on Areca Books.

We relaunched Streets of George Town, Penang on 7 February, 2026.

In a meaningful return to where it all began, we launched the new edition at 120 Armenian Street —
now Sun Yat Sen Museum Penang — the very same venue where the first edition was introduced 33 years ago. We were delighted by the warm turnout and the lively conversations that filled the room.

From 1993 to the early 2010s, the book sold about 25,000 copies.
Then the book went out of print for about a decade but was still very much in demand.
Many people asked why the Streets of George Town was not reprinted sooner.
The reason is that in the transition from analog to digital the plates were lost.
It took us a few years to find (almost) all the slides and put the book back together again!

Streets of George Town, Penang (5th Edition) is now available at our bookshop
at 72 Lebuh Aceh and via our online store.

Thank you for being part of our journey. We look forward to welcoming you at our next event.

Streets of George Town is richly illustrated with over 280 photos,
this guide is meant for every visitor who has ever enjoyed George Town’s charming streetscapes,
and every Penangite who wishes to rediscover his or her own home town.

About the Author
Khoo Su Nin @ Khoo Salma Nasution was born in Penang.
She is custodian of Sun Yat Sen Museum Penang at 120 Armenian Street and
co-founder of Areca Books with a bookshop along Lebuh Aceh.
Her works include: Streets of George Town, Penang (1993), Sun Yat Sen in Penang (2008),
The Chulia in Penang (2014) – winner, 2015 ICAS Book Prize, Sejarah Bergambar Seberang Perai (2015),
and Exploring Seberang Perai / Jelajah Seberang Perai (2025).

Streets of George Town, Penang by Khoo Su Nin
2026 (first published in 1993). Areca Books
280 colour photographs
Softcover, 21.8cm x 15.5cm, 191 pages
ISBN 9789839886009
Price: RM50

The post Celebrating ‘Streets of George Town, Penang’ – Book Launch  appeared first on Areca Books.

18/06                                                                                                    18 October 2006

  FRENCH BOOK ON PENANG LAUNCHED IN PARIS

A book on Penang entitled Penang: la Porte des Secrets (Penang – Through Gilded Doors) as well as an exhibition of photographs on the Malaysian island were launched today, 18 October 2006 in Paris.  

The book, its French edition stylishly written by Julia de Bierre and superbly photographed by James Bain Smith was officially launched by the Malaysian Ambassador to France, H.E. Dato S. Thanarajasingam, at a ceremony held at the Café des Initiés in Paris.  

In his opening address, H.E. Ambassador Dato Thanarajasingam said that the gilded doors of Penang were indeed a gateway to Malaysia, rich in culture and natural resources.

With 2007 being the Visit Malaysia Year, Malaysia looks forward to welcoming all its guests and visitors with its traditional warmth and hospitality, he said, calling on French people to visit Penang and Malaysia to savor the cultural diversity of Malaysia.

The event organized by Tourism Malaysia Paris was attended by more than 100 guests comprising members of the local travel industry, corporate guests and media representatives. The guests present were treated to a spread of traditional

Malaysian delicacies such as murtabak, curry puffs, cucur badak, seri muka, pakora, kuih lapis and spring rolls. Malaysia’s favourite drink, teh tarik was also served to guests.

The book Penang: la Porte des Secrets published by Areca Books, a Malaysian publisher based in Penang, would be an inspirational guide to the island for any foreign traveller. Julia de Bierre who was born and grew up in Penang is not only a Paris based writer but also an arts and antiques specialist with an in-depth knowledge of Malaysia.  The book which will be on sale in Europe, is not only available at bookshops but also at hotels, airports and museum shops.

Photographer James Bain Smith is an international artist and leading specialist in decorative arts. A fine arts graduate of the Royal Academy School in London, the exhibition on the beautiful photographs of Penang was part of his photography works.

The launching of the book together with the photo exhibition of Penang in Paris was indeed a golden opportunity not only to introduce Penang as a cultural destination for French tourists but also an added mileage to promote Malaysia in France.   

Embassy of Malaysia, Paris
18 October  2006

The post FRENCH BOOK ON PENANG LAUNCHED IN PARIS appeared first on Areca Books.

SEBERANG PERAI: While most people are familiar with what Penang island is famous for, little is known about what the state’s mainland, or Seberang Perai, has to offer.

To overcome this, heritage activist Khoo Salma Nasution has compiled a guidebook that outlines the historical facts, cultural aspects, and places of interest on the “other side” of Penang.

“Seberang Perai accounts for over 70% of Penang’s land area and more than half of its population, yet is often overshadowed by Penang island,” Khoo said at the launch of her book, “Exploring Seberang Perai”, yesterday.

She said the territory was originally part of Kedah. It came under British rule in 1800 and renamed Province Wellesley as part of the colony of Penang.

Province Wellesley remains the mainland’s gazetted English name in legal documents and government publications, while Seberang Perai is used in official Malay documents.

Khoo said Seberang Perai is referred to by many names – Province Wellesley, Butterworth, or simply “the mainland” by English-speaking residents, “koe kang (crossing the port)” or “pa hai (north sea)” by Hokkien-speaking residents, and simply “Seberang” by Malay-speaking folk.

“However, Seberang Perai rolls off the tongue more easily, and the original British name transitioned naturally to what it is known as now.

“All these different names have led to a lot of confusion and a lack of what might be called ‘destination branding’,” she said.

In 2016, Khoo researched and produced a bilingual book called “Province Wellesley: A Pictorial History”, deepening her understanding of Penang’s “other half”.

While working on her new book, she discovered that many Penangites did not know much about Seberang Perai, and said it would serve to bridge that gap.

“What surprised me was that even Seberang Perai residents may not really know other parts of Seberang Perai that well,” she said. Many of its residents prefer to visit the island instead of exploring places nearer to them.

She said Seberang Perai, being one of the biggest city councils in Malaysia, is now enjoying a fast pace of growth.

“We can say the future of Penang is going to be in Seberang Perai,” she said, noting the placement of most homegrown manufacturing plants in Seberang Perai, as well as the expansion of new housing and commercial development projects.

Seberang Perai mayor Baderul Amin Abdul Hamid, who was present at the launch, said the book was a mini-encyclopedia suitable for everyone from schoolchildren to travellers.

‘Exploring Seberang Perai’ is published with support from Think City’s Seberang Perai Small Towns Grants Programme. Get your copy from Areca Books or WhatsApp +6016-535 1731.

Carolyn K

This article was first published in Free Malaysia Today, 21 July 2025

Exploring Seberang Perai, Jelajah Seberang Perai, are now available on Areca Books’ website and in-store.

The post Explore Seberang Perai as future of Penang, says heritage activist appeared first on Areca Books.

HERITAGE activist Khoo Salma Nasution has had her fair share of disagreements with the DAP – led state government, especially over the Mutiara Light Rail Transit (LRT) and the now ongoing reclamation of the Silicon Island.

But there is something in common both sides share – it is that the future of the state lies on the mainland – Province Wellesley or Prai, as the locals regard the stretch of land which neighbours Kedah and Perak.

Khoo Salma has urged historians and cultural besides heritage activists to focus on what Prai entails, especially in the ancestry and legacy sides.

She has also compiled a guidebook which content is driven by history, cultural, and places of interest on the “other side” of Penang.

“Seberang Perai accounts for over 70% of Penang’s land area and more than half of its population, yet is often overshadowed by the island side,” Khoo said at the launch of her book, “Exploring Seberang Perai” at the Design Village outlet mall.

She recalled that the stretch, previously known as Province Wellesley, was first a part of Kedah, then annexed to Penang Island when it was a British Straits settlement.

Province Wellesley remains the mainland’s gazetted English name in legal documents and government publications, while Seberang Perai is used in official Malay documents.

While working on her book, Khoo Salma discovered that many Penangites did not know much about Seberang Perai and said it would serve to bridge that gap.

“What surprised me was that even Seberang Perai residents may not really know other parts of Seberang Perai that well,” she said.

Many of its residents prefer to visit the island instead of exploring places nearer to them.

She said Seberang Perai, being one of the biggest city councils in Malaysia, is now enjoying a fast pace of growth.

“We can say the future of Penang is going to be in Seberang Perai,” she said, noting the placement of most homegrown manufacturing plants in Seberang Perai, as well as the expansion of new housing and commercial development projects.

Seberang Prai City Council Lord Mayor Baderul Amin Abdul Hamid launched the book. – July 21, 2025.

Ian McIntyre

This article was first published in The Vibes, 21 July 2025

Exploring Seberang Perai, Jelajah Seberang Perai, are now available on Areca Books’ website and in-store.

The post Heritage activist launches book on Seberang Perai appeared first on Areca Books.

The seven books that were launched at the opening of the Karnival Baca Perdana and Sarawak Book Fair 2025 at the Hills

KUCHING: Seven new books spanning themes of heritage, history, poetry, education, and storytelling were launched yesterday (Sept 30) at the Karnival Baca Perdana and Sarawak Book Fair 2025, in a ceremony officiated by Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

The launch, held at The Hills, highlighted the fair’s mission of enriching knowledge, nurturing creativity, and preserving cultural identity in Sarawak.

Among the titles launched was “Pemulai ke Nanga Jela” by Dr Christine Padoch, which documents the Iban community of Nanga Jela, displaced by the Batang Ai Dam in 1985. Combining anthropological research from the 1970s with oral histories, the book preserves a vital cultural memory for future generations.

Six other books launched included Penghormatan Terakhir, Rhyme and Reflection in the Rainforest, Rosli Dhobi, Misi Lia, Proceedings of Action Research, Sixth Form Centre: Vol. 9, and Etnik Bidayuh dan Bale Gambang-Baruk: Identiti, Tradisi dan Perubahan.

Sharifah Nong Jasima

Extracted from Sarawak Tribune, dated 30 Sept 2025

Pemulai ke Nanga Jela, Return to Nanga Jela is now available on Areca Books’ website and in-store.

The post Sarawak Book Fair celebrates readers, writers appeared first on Areca Books.

KUCHING: A special panel discussion titled Pemulai ke Nanga Jela: Return to Nanga Jela will take place at 4pm this Saturday (Oct 4) at Telang Usan Hotel, here.

The event, jointly organised by Friends of Sarawak Museum (FoSM), Sarawak Heritage Society (SHS), and Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association (SDGA), is free and open to the public.

Conducted in both Iban and English, the session aims to shed light on the importance of preserving memories, history and traditions of Iban communities from Batang Ai.

“The longhouse at Nanga Jela was more than just a home, it represented generations of knowledge, customs, and land use that connected people deeply to the Engkari River landscape,” said FoSM, in a statement on Tuesday (Sept 30) highlighting the significance of the upcoming discussion.

“Through this panel and the book Pemulai ke Nanga Jela, we hope to ensure that the history of the community will not be lost to time, especially for younger generations who may only know these places through stories,”it said.

The discussion will feature prominent voices including anthropologist Christine Padoch, Charlie Dudang, and Jayl Langub, who will reflect on the process of documenting communities whose way of life has been disrupted by modern development.

It also coincides with the official launch of the book Pemulai ke Nanga Jela: Return to Nanga Jela by the Governor of Sarawak at the Sarawak Book Fair 2025, organised by Pustaka Sarawak.

“Nanga Jela, once located along Sarawak’s Engkari River, was home to an Iban longhouse community whose lands covered about 8,500 hectares of orchards, forests, graveyards, and river beaches.

“It was considered one of the longest-occupied Iban territories in Sarawak. However, with the construction of the Batang Ai Hydroelectric Dam in 1985, Nanga Jela and 21 other longhouses were submerged, erasing a centuries-old settlement,”it said.

In the 1970s, Padoch, sponsored by the Sarawak Museum, lived in Nanga Jela for two years and documented the community’s dynamic lifestyle and deep relationship with the land.

The bilingual Iban–English book, co-authored by Padoch with Bobby Anak Nyegang and Itin Anak Langit, revisits this history while making accessible archival materials collected more than fifty years ago.

“For the descendants of Nanga Jela and the wider Dayak community, the book provides not just a scholarly account but also a cultural inheritance, a written record of a landscape and way of life now at risk of being forgotten,”it said.

Seats for the event are limited, and early registration is encouraged at tinyurl.com/nangajela.

Fasiha Khushiri

This article was first published in Sarawak Tribune, 30 Sept 2025

Pemulai ke Nanga Jela, Return to Nanga Jela, is now available on Areca Books’ website and in-store.

The post Revisit Nanga Jela at Telang Usan Hotel on Saturday appeared first on Areca Books.

Rash Behari Bhattacharjee

8 September 2025 – 11:01am

The book is dedicated to his wife, Wong May Lian, played a vital role in his success (All photos: Areca Books)

In order to share in Datuk Tan Boon Lin’s penchant for education, we need to appreciate the social norms that shaped the people’s outlook during the British colonial rule of pre-war Malaya, when Tan was growing up.

A key symbol of that colonial ethos was the missionary-run school, where Asian children were moulded by a band of teachers of legendary dedication and discipline into shining specimens of good breeding, ethical conduct and resourcefulness, fit for a life of public service.

The Penang Free School, where Tan was educated, was among a select few institutions in major towns around the country that admitted the crème de la crème of the student population, giving its alumni an aura akin to that of elite British schools.

Of its many claims to fame, an obvious one is that PFS was one of the oldest English-language schools in Southeast Asia, being established in 1816. For perspective, Singapore would only be set up as a trading post by the British administrator Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819. What set PFS apart from church-administered schools was that although it was founded by a clergyman, Reverend Robert Sparke Hutchings, it was open to all children regardless of class or race, hence its name.

Tan’s life story is remarkable not just for his many personal achievements but also as an enlightening record of the historic events he lived through. For instance, the shattering of imperial Britain’s invincible image in the eyes of a student in his history class would resonate with readers in these times, when the erosion of America’s preeminence in world affairs is presenting itself in breaking headlines on our phones.

At 11, Tan left his rural home for George Town to continue his education at PFS, which has produced a long list of stellar personalities

“The story of my life spans a pivotal era in the history of Malaya and Malaysia,” says Tan in his preface. “It begins with my childhood in the British Colonial Straits Settlement of Penang, during the frugality of the Depression between the World Wars, and winds its way through the harrowing experience of the Japanese Occupation, the hopeful rebuilding of a shattered postwar world, and the jubilant optimism of Merdeka. This is followed by the highly rewarding task of building a new nation. In the hope of inspiring the reader to make a difference in the lives of others, I humbly submit my personal reflections on my life, my work, my passions, my faith and my family.”

Today, when the esprit de corps that the elite schools engendered in their students has faded with the march of time, younger generations may not relate to the sentiment that made Tan resolve to return to his alma mater to teach. The emotionally charged scene that led to that decision is worth recounting, but first we must allow the tale to tell itself.

Tan’s early years were spent in Nibong Tebal, which in the 1930s was a small village at the border of Penang and Perak. In these times, when we face the breathless pace of technological change, it is quaint to encounter details like the arrival of electricity for street lighting, displacing oil lamps, in the backwater settlement.

At 11, Tan left his rural home for George Town to continue his education at PFS, which has produced a long list of stellar personalities. Historical figures like Dr Wu Lien-Teh and Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra were synonymous with the school. Dr Wu fought the Manchurian plague of 1910/11 and developed the precursor of the N95 respirator mask that became a household word during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Tunku, of course, was our first prime minister.

Premier schools like PFS famously leave a lasting imprint on the character of their students. In Tan’s words:

“The Free School years were special to me. There was something about the school — call it ethos, atmosphere, traditions or spirit. It was the Free School mystique that changed this rural schoolboy physically, emotionally and academically, preparing him for his next stage of education.”

A miraculous escape

And then there was high drama. When the Japanese army invaded the Malay Peninsula in 1941, Tan, then a mere 14 years old, narrowly survived an air raid while he was on volunteer firefighting duty. The incident left a lifetime’s impression on him.

“The siren sounded, indicating that an air raid was in progress. Soon, there were sounds of gunfire, and I realised that the fire station was being attacked by Japanese aeroplanes. Up in the tower, surrounded by the sounds of machine gun fire and the explosions of bombs, I could do nothing except crouch in fear. Bombs were raining down around me. Wave after wave of Japanese aircraft dropped bombs over the fire station, but miraculously, none hit the tower.”

Decades later, when Tan became a Christian in 1984, he ascribed his escape to divine intervention.

“…I realised for the very first time that my survival was … due to the providence, grace and mercy of God. It was God who had watched over me and protected me from the Japanese bombs and gunfire. It was entirely due to God’s grace that I had survived the bombing, and not something I had earned or deserved. Otherwise, my name would have been added to the list of air raid casualties emblazoned on the memorial plaque in the fire station.”

In 1945, when the war ended, Tan made up his mind to finish his schooling. The school was in shambles, but both students and teachers were determined to make the best of the circumstances. Besides studies, Tan had the opportunity to develop as a leader through the scouting movement and school prefectship. It was the nurturing of this leadership quality by his teachers that was to determine the roles that Tan played in his adult life.

Despite missing almost four years of education due to the war, PFS students secured a 78.5% pass rate in the Cambridge School Certificate examination, and Tan achieved Grade One, with distinctions in three subjects — an outstanding score in those times.

This paved the way for a place to study arts at Raffles College in Singapore on a Malayan Union scholarship. A moving send-off by his scout troop cemented Tan’s resolve to serve his alma mater after his studies.

“When I reached the pier, I discovered that some of my Pinhorn Troop Scouts were there to see me off. Soon the numbers increased and almost the entire troop was present. As the ferry left the pier, I could hear voices singing our Scout song, ‘Look wide, ambassadors, Look wide, Ye members of the PFS, PFS.’ As I looked back to the pier and as the figures grew dimmer in the setting sun, my eyes moistened and I said to myself, ‘You must return to serve in Penang Free School.’”

…“And return to Penang Free School I did, in October 1951, to begin my career as a schoolteacher. And then in August 1963, I returned once more, this time to take over the post of headmaster.”

Free School’s first Asian headmaster

While Tan was studying for his bachelor of arts degree at Raffles College, it merged with the King Edward VII College of Medicine to form the University of Malaya in Singapore. Aiming to become a teacher, he graduated in 1951 with a general degree and diploma in education. In his words:

“Finally, in October 1951, my ambition was realised when I became the first University of Malaya graduate to be appointed a teacher at PFS!”

In these times, when business leaders with the Midas touch are much celebrated, we have to roll back the years to remember a time when the richest men in town would be humble before their children’s teachers, who not only implanted knowledge but also ethical values and discipline in young minds to prepare them for life’s struggles. This idealism would have fired the generation that Tan represents to dedicate their lives to this noble profession.

Somehow, Tan’s association with PFS, as a student, teacher and then as its first Asian headmaster, from 1963 to 1968, has that undefinable quality that is referred to earlier, which drives one to make a difference — a sentiment reflected in the title of his autobiography.

It is evident from his account that Tan made a difference in the many distinguished positions he held in his career — as education officer at the Malacca High School, headmaster at Gajah Berang Secondary, Malacca, and Sultan Abdul Hamid College, Alor Setar, and at higher levels thereafter. He served as the director of education for Pahang, then Penang, became the chief inspector of schools and ended his government service as the director of the technical and vocational division of the Ministry of Education in 1982. Tan then became director of student affairs at Tunku Abdul Rahman College, finally retiring in 1987.

Tan gives credit to his wife, Wong May Lian, for enabling his success by sacrificing some of her professional ambitions to support him at home. In a heartwarming convergence of hearts and minds, he became a Christian in 1984, finally sharing a common faith with her.

‘On Making a Difference: The Joyful Journey of an Educationist’ is available in Penang at the Old Frees Association and Areca Books, and in Kuala Lumpur at Kinokuniya.

This article was first published in The Edge, Sept 2025.

The post ‘On Making a Difference’: Datuk Tan Boon Lin’s autobiography recounts his journey of advancing education in Malaysia appeared first on Areca Books.

In order to share in Datuk Tan Boon Lin’s penchant for education, we need to appreciate the social norms that shaped the people’s outlook during the British colonial rule of pre-war Malaya, when Tan was growing up.

A key symbol of that colonial ethos was the missionary-run school, where Asian children were moulded by a band of teachers of legendary dedication and discipline into shining specimens of good breeding, ethical conduct and resourcefulness, fit for a life of public service.

The Penang Free School, where Tan was educated, was among a select few institutions in major towns around the country that admitted the crème de la crème of the student population, giving its alumni an aura akin to that of elite British schools.

Of its many claims to fame, an obvious one is that PFS was one of the oldest English language schools in Southeast Asia, being established in 1816. For perspective, Singapore would only be set up as a trading post by the British administrator Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819. What set PFS apart from church-administered schools was that although it was founded by a clergyman, Reverend Robert Sparke Hutchings, it was open to all children regardless of class or race, hence its name.

Tan’s life story is remarkable not just for his many personal achievements but also as an enlightening record of the historic events he lived through. For instance, the shattering of imperial Britain’s invincible image in the eyes of a student in his history class would resonate with readers in these times, when the erosion of America’s preeminence in world affairs is presenting itself in breaking headlines on our phones.

“The story of my life spans a pivotal era in the history of Malaya and Malaysia,” says Tan in his preface. “It begins with my childhood in the British Colonial Straits Settlement of Penang, during the frugality of the Depression between the World Wars, and winds its way through the harrowing experience of the Japanese Occupation, the hopeful rebuilding of a shattered postwar world, and the jubilant optimism of Merdeka. This is followed by the highly rewarding task of building a new nation. In the hope of inspiring the reader to make a difference in the lives of others, I humbly submit my personal reflections on my life, my work, my passions, my faith and my family.”

Today, when the esprit de corps that the elite schools engendered in their students has faded with the march of time, younger generations may not relate to the sentiment that made Tan resolve to return to his alma mater to teach. The emotionally charged scene that led to that decision is worth recounting, but first we must allow the tale to tell itself.

Tan’s early years were spent in Nibong Tebal, which in the 1930s was a small village at the border of Penang and Perak. In these times, when we face the breathless pace of technological change, it is quaint to encounter details like the arrival of electricity for street lighting, displacing oil lamps, in the backwater settlement.

At 11, Tan left his rural home for George Town to continue his education at PFS, which has produced a long list of stellar personalities. Historical figures like Dr Wu Lien-Teh and Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra were synonymous with the school. Dr Wu fought the Manchurian plague of 1910/11 and developed the precursor of the N95 respirator mask that became a household word during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Tunku, of course, was our first prime minister.

Premier schools like PFS famously leave a lasting imprint on the character of their students. In Tan’s words:

“The Free School years were special to me. There was something about the school — call it ethos, atmosphere, traditions or spirit. It was the Free School mystique that changed this rural schoolboy physically, emotionally and academically, preparing him for his next stage of education.”

A miraculous escape

And then there was high drama. When the Japanese army invaded the Malay Peninsula in 1941, Tan, then a mere 14 years old, narrowly survived an air raid while he was on volunteer firefighting duty. The incident left a lifetime’s impression on him.

“The siren sounded, indicating that an air raid was in progress. Soon, there were sounds of gunfire, and I realised that the fire station was being attacked by Japanese aeroplanes. Up in the tower, surrounded by the sounds of machine gun fire and the explosions of bombs, I could do nothing except crouch in fear. Bombs were raining down around me. Wave after wave of Japanese aircraft dropped bombs over the fire station, but miraculously, none hit the tower.”

Decades later, when Tan became a Christian in 1984, he ascribed his escape to divine intervention.

“…I realised for the very first time that my survival was … due to the providence, grace and mercy of God. It was God who had watched over me and protected me from the Japanese bombs and gunfire. It was entirely due to God’s grace that I had survived the bombing, and not something I had earned or deserved. Otherwise, my name would have been added to the list of air raid casualties emblazoned on the memorial plaque in the fire station.”

In 1945, when the war ended, Tan made up his mind to finish his schooling. The school was in shambles, but both students and teachers were determined to make the best of the circumstances. Besides studies, Tan had the opportunity to develop as a leader through the scouting movement and school prefectship. It was the nurturing of this leadership quality by his teachers that was to determine the roles that Tan played in his adult life.

Despite missing almost four years of education due to the war, PFS students secured a 78.5% pass rate in the Cambridge School Certificate examination, and Tan achieved Grade One, with distinctions in three subjects — an outstanding score in those times.

This paved the way for a place to study arts at Raffles College in Singapore on a Malayan Union scholarship. A moving send-off by his scout troop cemented Tan’s resolve to serve his alma mater after his studies.

“When I reached the pier, I discovered that some of my Pinhorn Troop Scouts were there to see me off . Soon the numbers increased and almost the entire troop was present. As the ferry left the pier, I could hear voices singing our Scout song, ‘Look wide, ambassadors, Look wide, Ye members of the PFS, PFS.’ As I looked back to the pier and as the figures grew dimmer in the setting sun, my eyes moistened and I said to myself, ‘You must return to serve in Penang Free School.’”

…“And return to Penang Free School I did, in October 1951, to begin my career as a schoolteacher. And then in August 1963, I returned once more, this time to take over the post of headmaster.”

Free School’s first Asian headmaster

While Tan was studying for his bachelor of arts degree at Raffles College, it merged with the King Edward VII College of Medicine to form the University of Malaya in Singapore. Aiming to become a teacher, he graduated in 1951 with a general degree and diploma in education. In his words:

“Finally, in October 1951, my ambition was realised when I became the first University of Malaya graduate to be appointed a teacher at PFS!”

In these times, when business leaders with the Midas touch are much celebrated, we have to roll back the years to remember a time when the richest men in town would be humble before their children’s teachers, who not only implanted knowledge but also ethical values and discipline in young minds to prepare them for life’s struggles. This idealism would have fired the generation that Tan represents to dedicate their lives to this noble profession.

Somehow, Tan’s association with PFS, as a student, teacher and then as its first Asian headmaster, from 1963 to 1968, has that undefinable quality that is referred to earlier, which drives one to make a difference — a sentiment reflected in the title of his autobiography.

It is evident from his account that Tan made a difference in the many distinguished positions he held in his career — as education officer at the Malacca High School, headmaster at Gajah Berang Secondary, Malacca, and Sultan Abdul Hamid College, Alor Setar, and at higher levels thereafter. He served as the director of education for Pahang, then Penang, became the chief inspector of schools and ended his government service as the director of the technical and vocational division of the Ministry of Education in 1982. Tan then became director of student affairs at Tunku Abdul Rahman College, finally retiring in 1987.

Tan gives credit to his wife, Wong May Lian, for enabling his success by sacrificing some of her professional ambitions to support him at home. In a heartwarming convergence of hearts and minds, he became a Christian in 1984, finally sharing a common faith with her.

Rash Behari Bhattacharjee

August 25, 2025

Published in The Edge Malaysia

This book, On Making A Difference: The Joyful Journey of and Educationist, is available on Areca Books’ website and in-store.

The post Schooling makes the man: A rural boy is transformed by the Penang Free School mystique appeared first on Areca Books.