April 25, 2011

Greek Architecture in Sibu

This photo is for all my peers and younger school mates who hail from Upper Lanang Road and Salim area of Sibu. And for those who have moved away from Sibu a few decades ago. You cannot believe it I suppose!! Neither could I when I went to visit it recently with Wong Meng Lei and Yang Yi Fang.

Some of you might have gone to school in your younger days in Ta Goong(in Foochow pinyin) or Thai Chang (in Mandarin pinyin) Primary School -a Methodist community and church sponsored primary school. "Where there was a Methodist Church there was a school"was the general view about Methodist Church in Sarawak.







It is the only Methodist Primary School I know in Malaysia that has a dome and a cross. It sits on a beautiful site which is No.1 Lot along this road and at today's price it is a multi-million project.

What a beauty indeed - thanks to our Foochow forefathers who had the foresight to obtain this piece of land from the government of that time and the present wealth of the local people ..... The Foochow pioneers of the area started the church and school with whatever money their earned from rubber in those days.

This is the new building which is very different from the one that was constructed in the 1900's. From simple wooden structures which were very functional to the present concretised and Greek design!!

SJK (C) = Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) means ( Chinese ) National Type School. In principle it means a government school which is run according to national educational polices but with Chinese management and Chinese as one of the main mediums of instruction. With the l Malaysia vision many of the Chinese teachers are tri lingual and many of the administrators/officers are Muslims. However the origin of the school would not be forgotten by all the photos and historical records written on the walls.


Government policies on education of the day are adhered to. Christian teachings are only available as and when needed but outside school hours. Islamic Studies have become a natioanl subject for Muslims attending this school and are taught by the certified Religious teachers who are on the government payroll. Moral studies are for those who are non-Muslim. Any teacher who has been trained to teach Moral Studies can teach the subject.

The development of the school continues to depend on the nearby Church and the Management Board.

More will be written about the history of the church and school later....

11 comments:

Ah Ngao said...

yeah,at first glance ...looks like some ang more place

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

Salim is the first place my great grandpa arrived to Nanyang.

Great building. Praise God.
I hope they have the St Matthew, St Mark, St Luke and St John.
My ex church in Auckland looks like this I thought was Roman.

http://annkschin.blogspot.com/2011/02/sunday-stillsold-churches-and.html

Ensurai said...

Ah Ngao...very expensive ang moh design...I suppose the board of management like the Greek idea....beginning of Socratic teachings and education....long history there.

Ensurai said...

Ann....fancy you remembering the houses...nowadays more common to have names like Bestari...Cemerlang...Etc...l Malaysia!!

Methodist School long ago changed the names of the houses of Blue, Green, yellow and red...now I am not sure of the names...

Greek would have the columns...and the domes...Cross is Roman.

Anonymous said...

A little strange isn't it? Everyone would anticipate the Chinese style of building for Chinese Primary School. This one became ancient Greek design

Ensurai said...

Yes...that is why I decided to write about it....I have not asked who designed it...later.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

of course I remember the houses. Form 1, St Mark was the champion. Every years after that, we were last. I was hoping the last year I was there in 1973, we will win, no such luck. always last . Poor Mrs. Wong Bing Sing.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

My great Grand Father founded the Kwong Kouk School, is it still there? The couplets, and the school name board were written by him.

I was very proud of my heritage. he was a Siew Cai, and my Ah Kung said it was equal to a degree.

Ensurai said...

Ann....I must ask you for your ggf's life story....would be good for my little research on history of Chinese schools in Rajang area....Siew Caiis a nice title...yes...a graduate. Wong Nai Siong too.

Will write later about the four houses...

c.y

Unknown said...

links of london, marc jacobs, toms shoes, thomas sabo, doudoune canada goose, canada goose uk, moncler, louis vuitton, hollister, montre pas cher, sac louis vuitton pas cher, pandora charms, canada goose, ugg,uggs,uggs canada, canada goose, wedding dresses, juicy couture outlet, canada goose outlet, louis vuitton, replica watches, juicy couture outlet, moncler, swarovski crystal, bottes ugg, ugg pas cher, louis vuitton, pandora jewelry, pandora jewelry, ugg,ugg australia,ugg italia, pandora charms, moncler, ugg boots uk, louis vuitton, moncler, moncler, moncler, canada goose, canada goose outlet, karen millen, moncler, moncler outlet, canada goose, swarovski, coach outlet, supra shoes

Unknown said...

oakley, valentino shoes, ray ban, insanity workout, instyler, hollister, soccer shoes, nike air max, bottega veneta, converse, nike roshe, beats by dre, ralph lauren, nike trainers, louboutin, new balance, converse outlet, hollister, longchamp, north face outlet, soccer jerseys, birkin bag, nike air max, lululemon, asics running shoes, lancel, ghd, mcm handbags, chi flat iron, abercrombie and fitch, hollister, mont blanc, herve leger, nfl jerseys, iphone cases, reebok shoes, vans, nike huarache, baseball bats, mac cosmetics, wedding dresses, gucci, ferragamo shoes, p90x workout, vans shoes, north face outlet, timberland boots, celine handbags, babyliss, jimmy choo shoes

Soh Mien on First Day of Lunar New Year

 Today 10.2.2024 is the first day of the New Lunar Year of the Dragon. Yes I have cooked the chicken and made the soh mien. Happy New Year!!...