"The world already knows its name as Victoria Institution, so it is my pleasure to announce that its name, beginning today, it will remain as Victoria Institution, " said Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
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Heritage site: Shafie (second form left) and Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique holding up the National Heritage Declaration at The Victoria Institution Kuala Lumpur.
Speaking at a ceremony Saturday to declare the school's national heritae status, Shafie said the school was chosen as it met the criteria of The National Heritage Act 2005.
Shafie, who is an alumnus of the school, said the VI played a role in the conntry's history when it was used as a administrative headquaters by the invading Japanese army during The Second World War.
The school he said, was also the first English secondary school in the country, was prestigious and had produced important personalities from Sultans, leaders, ministers, corporate figures, politicians to sports luminaries and professionals.
He said the school was the first in Southeast Asia to have cadet corps and a school band. (VICCB)
Shafie called for the school's heritage to be conserved as each characteristic "be it a wall, a window, balcony, roof, tower or its field has its own story."
Founded bu Sultan Abdul Samad, William Hood Treacher, Loke Yew, Thamboosamy Pillai and Yap Kwan Seng on Aug 14, 1893, The Victoria Institution has steadfastly maintaned a record of academic excellence and produced many leaders and luminaries.
Those who passed through its hallowed halls include Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, Cabinet miniters then and now like Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique, Datuk Seri Dr. Ng Yen Yen and former judge Datuk Mahadev Shankar.
Other former students include corporate giants like Tan Sri Shamsuddin Abdul Kadir, T. Ananda Krishnan and Tan Sri Francis Yeoh while in the field of sports the school produced luminaries such as Datuk Dr. M Jegathesan, the late Mokhtar Dahari, Datuk Misbun Sidek and his brothers, Foo Kok Keong, Datuk P. S Nathan and Ishtiaq Mubarak.
Shafie said till today there were 172 items listed on the National Heritage List.
Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal (left) with Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique looking at the Natioal Heritage Declaration scroll at The Victoria Institution Kuala Lumpur. (both of them are Victorians)
He said there were four sites in the country accorded 'World Heritage Site' status and several manuscripts were in the 'Memory Of The World' register.
"Such recignition surely adds value to our heritage and Malaysians should be proud that our heritage is shared with the world, " Shafie said.
Meanwhile, VI Parent Teachers Association (PTA) chairman, Raja Amir Shah Raja Abdul Aziz, said now that the school had been bestowed national heritage status, with its illustrious name restored, a strategic plan needed to be formulated to chart the school's future direction.
"After the heritage do and getting back the VI name, all of us the PTA, old boys (VIOBA), the teachers and the community should make the VI the best in everything.
"We can have the Raffles Institution in Singapore as a benchmark. " he said - Bernama
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The National Heritage Declaration
The Victoria Institution Kuala Lumpur
Chinese Drums welcome VIPS
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