Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman

Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman (or STAR) is a premier, all-boys fully residential school in Malaysia funded by the Government of Malaysia. Named after the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) of the Federation of Malaya, Almarhum Seri Paduka Baginda Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad, it is located in Ipoh, Perak. The school started at an army camp in Baeza Avenue (now known as Jalan Hospital). Formerly known as Malay Secondary School, the school was built by the Malayan government in 1957. In 2011,the school was awarded with the Sekolah Berprestasi Tinggi or High Performance School^[1] title, a title awarded to schools in Malaysia that have met stringent criteria including academic achievement, strength of alumni, international recognition, network and linkages. In the recent PMR examination (2013), the school managed to produce 86 straight A's students out of 107 with GPS 1.05 to be the third best among schools in Perak.^[2] while for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia, the school obtained GPS of 1.73 with 36 students obtaining straight A's and 2 students gain straight A+.^[3]

The beginning

In 1970, a few hundred promising rural children who had completed their Malay primary level education, and their placement in a few selected schools in Ipoh, Pulau Pinang, Kuala Lipis, Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bharu were chosen to be the pioneer students of the first three Malay residential secondary schools for rural children. They were planned in Ipoh, Tg. Malim, and Melaka. These schools were later known as Sekolah Tuanku Abd Rahman (STAR), Ipoh; Sekolah Dato' Abdul Razak (SDAR), Tg. Malim; and Sekolah Tun Fatimah (STF), Melaka.

In 1957, 360 of these 13–15-year-old children were placed in five old wooden military barracks vacated by the Malay Regiments, at what was then known as Baeza Avenue, Ashby Road, Ipoh (the site where Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Kinta, Jalan Hospital, Ipoh, now stands).

Initially, the military barracks; with twelve wooden classrooms, became the new students' school, known as the Malay Secondary School (MSS), Ipoh. Classrooms, sleeping quarters (dormitories), dining hall etc. were all cramped in the barracks within barbed wire fences surrounding the 4-acre site. There was no space for the school to have a hall, or a playing field.

History

The school started on 13 January 1957, with the admission of 200 of these children into Form One. In March, another 160 joined the school to join the Remove Class. A year in what was called “Remove Class” was deemed necessary for every intake of students at the start. The purpose was to equip the students with sufficient command of English language that would enable them to commence their secondary education with English as the medium of instruction. Hence around 60-70% of the time in Remove Class was devoted to the teaching and learning of English Language. The Remove Class ceased to exist when Bahasa Malaysia was made the sole medium of instruction in secondary schools in the country in the early 1970s.

Teaching was done by a group of 15 teachers led by En Hamdan b Sheikh Tahir (Allahyarham Tun Hamdan b Sheikh Tahir) as the first principal. Classes were conducted following the standard curriculum offered in the English medium secondary schools of the day. Associations such as the English and Malay Literary and Debating societies were set up A Boy Scout group, a Red Cross Society and a St. John Ambulance Association group were also formed. The lack of a school hall did not deter the boys from staging a school play for the town folks using another school hall at ACS Ipoh. The absence of a school field of their own did not prevent the boys from playing soccer, hockey and rugby two days a week on “borrowed” ground at the Anderson School new field. The tradition of having Annual School Sports Day was also started in the first year when on 12 July 1957, using the Anderson School field, the school held its first School Sports Day.

The official opening

On 14 May 1958, the name Malay Secondary School (MSS) gave way to the name “STAR” after the school was officially opened and renamed “Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman” Ipoh, by the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, Allahyarham Tunku Abd Rahman Putra.

The hope and the aspiration the government placed on the school in helping the Malays were reflected by some of the words of the Yang Dipertuan Agong, the Prime Minister, and the Minister of Education in their messages commemorating the day:

“The main object of your school is to impart knowledge more particularly in English and to mould character, and it is imperative that there should be schools of this kind in Malaya, if the Malays, as a race, are to be able to climb the educational ladder and to enter technical colleges and universities.”^[4]

Yang Dipertuan Agong, Istana Negara, KL. 26 April 1958.

“The official opening of this residential secondary school is an event of vital importance for all young Malay boys. Coming from kampongs all over the country they will find here every facility for training under the best conditions, providing a firm foundation for their work and study in the years to come……….As Tuanku Abdul Rahman School is the first of its kind, it can be both a spur to the ambitions of the people and an inspiration to all Malays..”^[5]

Tunku Abd Rahman, Prime Minister, Fed. Of Malaya. 8 May 1958

“The ceremony today marks a new chapter in the history of Malay education, a milestone for the Malay secondary education, since the first primary Malay residential school was started about fifty years ago (MCKK)……The school, as well as the other Malay Secondary Schools and classes, have been established with the purpose of meeting the wishes and resolution of the Government and the people of independent Federation of Malaya towards raising the standard of Malay education, and through it, to attain further development of the Malay language and the improvement of the living standards of the Malays.”^[6]

Mohd Khir Johari, Minister of Education, Federation of Malaya. 10 May 1958

The opening and renaming of the school was symbolised by the Prime Minister unveiling a brass plaque with the inscription of the school name mounted on a granite boulder placed in the roundabout in front of the main school block. The ceremony was witnessed by the whole school in the presence of many dignitaries including the Deputy Prime Minister, YAB Dato Abd Razak Hussain, Federal Ministers and the Menteri Besar of Perak YAB En Ghazali Jawi. The occasion was celebrated with an exhibition of handiwork put up by the boys, a mass drill and a display by a military band, a soccer match between the young school team and the junior team of the Malay College Kuala Kangsar, and a variety concert.

1956-1965

• 2 January 1957 - MSS operated from a temporary site (a former British Army Barrack) at Baeza Avenue, Off Ashby Road, Ipoh, Perak with 360 students. The first headmaster of the school was Tuan Hj. Hamdan Bin Sheikh Tahir.
• 6 January 1958 - the school moved to its present site along Tiger Lane, Ipoh (now Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah).
• 14 May 1958 - the official opening and renaming of the school by the first Prime Minister of Federation Of Malaya YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj.
• The school is now known as Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman, named after the first Yang Di Pertuan Agong of the Federation, His Majesty Tuanku Abdul Rahman.
• 23 September 1958 - royal Visit by the His Majesty Yang Di Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Rahman.
• November 1959 - the first batch of students sat the Lower Certificate of Education examination.
• January 1960 - Form Four classes started.
• November 1961 - STAR’s first batch of candidates (155) sat for the combined Cambridge Overseas School Certificate/Federation of Malaya Certificate examinations.
• January 1962 - Form Six Classes started.
• November 1963 - STAR’s first batch of Upper Six Classes (Arts and Science) sat for the Overseas Higher School Certificate examination.
• January 1964 - female students were admitted (STAR is a boys’ residential school) to the school joining Lower Six Science class.
• January 1965 - 13 girls were admitted to the school entering Lower Six classes.

1966-1975

• 1975 - school stopped the enrolment of pupils into Remove Classes

1976-1985

• January 1981 - enrolment of first 2nd generation Starian. Alimin Ismadi, the son of Ismail Salleh (second batch) joined Form One.
• June 1981 - official launch of Kelas Matrikulasi Sains with Universiti Sains Malaysia.
• 1982 - Silver Jubilee.
• 15 August 1982 - Hussein Salleh (first batch) returned to the school as Principal.

School's Leader

The highest student position in the school called as Headboy or Ketua Umum in malay. The school's headboy will be helped by his 3 Deputy Headboy and also other prefects. Below are the names of the school's headboy :

Sports and Clubs

SPORTS

Cobratasha Rugby Team

STAR was Perak state rugby champion for many years, culminating in winning the Mori Trophy in 1968. Many of the players went on to don state and national colours. The rugby's team battlecry of "Cobra tasha, Cobra tasha, shina shina STAR" is the embodiment of the school's spirit. In 2016, Cobratasha had became the Champion of Malaysia Super Six School Rugby after beating Sekolah Menengah Sains Selangor with the score of 19 - 15. They are also one of the greatest rugby team among Malaysian schools.

Anaconda Hockey Team

Anaconda is the STAR's hockey team. They had been one of the excellent and strongest hockey team among Sekolah Berasrama Penuh and Schools in Malaysia. They had been crowned as the champion in a lots of hockey tournaments between schools around Malaysia. Below are their achievements :

CLUBS

All - STAR Debating Union

All- STAR Debating Union consists of two clubs which is Keluarga Debat Bahasa Melayu and English Debate Club And Society. They are one of the highly recognised Debating Team in Sekolah Berasrama Penuh. The English Debate Club And Societ which is the english debating club of STAR Ipoh had joined and won a lot of national and international debate competitions. The Keluarga Debat Bahasa Melayu is the malay debating club of STAR Ipoh had won in numerous competitions in Malaysia. This club are one of the most successful and excellent club in the school. Below are some of their succesful achievements :

STAR YOUTH ORCHESTRA

STAR YOUTH ORCHESTRA are the orchestral band for STAR Ipoh. They are one of Sekolah Berasrama Penuh orchestra team. One of the competition that they had won is the 2015 Malaysia International Music Arts Festival which they received Gold Award.

OTHER CLUBS AND SPORTS

- STAR Basketball Team - STAR Volleyball Team - STAR Cricket Team

Events

STAR OLD BOYS WEEKEND

STAR OLD BOYS WEEKEND is an annual event organised by the school alumni which called as STAR OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION. During this event, all oldboys will come to this event to meet their batchmates and members during their study at the school. This event is held at the school. There are a lots of activities and programmes during this event such as hockey, rugby and basketball games. During the last night of the event, Grand Dinner will be held.

Alumni

Old Boys Association logo.

The alumni or old boys of the school are affiliated to STAROBA, the Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman Old Boys Association. The society is involved in activities like Old Boys Weekend and other sporting events involving alumni of other schools. The President of the association is Datuk Tamunif Mokhtar.

Notable alumni include:

• Datuk Dr. Awang Adek Hussin - Ambassador of Malaysia to the United States of America & Former Deputy Ministry of Finance (Malaysia)
• Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin - Deputy Minister of Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities (Malaysia)
• Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh - former Terengganu chief minister, Chairman of MARA (Majlis Amanah Rakyat), Education and Higher Learning Minister II
• Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman
• Datuk Seri Lokman Hakim bin Md. Jasan - Secretary General Of Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Malaysia)^[7]
• Tan Sri Annuar Musa - former Minister of Youth and Sports^[8][9]
• Dato' Seri Dr. Hilmi Haji Yahya - Deputy Minister of Ministry of Health
• Dato' Mohd Zaid Ibrahim - Prominent Malaysian lawyer, former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of legal affairs and judicial reform
• Dato' Nasaruddin Hashim - Politician & Former Chairman of FELCRA
• Tuan Haji Saari Sungib - Senior politician-activist of Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS) & ADUN for Hulu Kelang
• Dato' Wan Ahmad Wan Omar - Former Deputy Chairman of Election Commission / Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR)
• Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Abdul Samad Haji Alias - President of the Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants, President of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants & Member of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) Board of Advisors
• Datuk Mhd. Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz - Mayor of Kuala Lumpur & former Director of Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL)
• Nik Hamdan Daud - Founder of Barakah Offshore Petroleum Berhad, a Bursa Malaysia listed company.^[10]
• Dr. Ishak Bin Yeop Mohd. Shar - Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KYM Holdings, former Secretary General of the Ministry of Energy, Telecommunications and Communications^[11]
• Datuk Zamani Abdul Ghani - former Deputy Governor, Bank Negara Malaysia
• Datuk Mohd Nasir Ahmad - Former CEO of Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Berhad (PUNB), Chairman Board of Directors UKM Holding Sdn Bhd & Adjunct Professor with Universiti Utara Malaysia
• Dato’ Abdul Rahman Ahmad - Director & CEO of Ekuinas
• Dato' Jaafar Kamin - Former Director of Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM)
• Emeritus Prof. Dr. Abdullah Hassan - Malay Language Professor^[12]
• Professor Datuk Dr. Zainal Kling - former Vice-Chancellor of University Malaya^[13]
• Professor Dr. Kamarulzaman Askandar - Professor of Political Science, Universiti Sains Malaysia & a specialist in conflict resolution
• Brigadier Jeneral Dato’ Ghazali bin Ibrahim - Patron of Commando Veterans Club Malaysia ^[14]
• Prof. Dr. Mohamad Hatta Azad Khan - filmmaker, S.E.A. Write Award recipient.^[15]
• Jamal Jamaluddin - Famous radio DJ; working in Sinar FM^[16]
• Rashidi Ishak - Actor and guitarist of Dead Mushroom^[17]
• Mohd Misron Omar - Vice-President, Skills Johor ^[18]
• Badrul Hisyam Abu Bakar - CEO, Maybank Asset Management Sdn Bhd (Maybank AM) ^[19]
• Brigadier Jeneral Dato'Saadon B Hasnan - Royal Malaysian Air Force
• Iskandar Sham Abd Rasap - Chief Operating Officer / Chief Financial Officer UNITAR

Controversies

In 2003, 20 Form Five students were expelled for reviving a negative culture(gangsterism) in the school. The culture is known as The High Council where the group, consisting of seniors (who are active in sports and excel academically, but lack spiritually) would intimidate and force the juniors to obey their rules. It is a structured and organised crime where there were even rituals to appoint their leaders. They even claimed themselves to be the most "powerful organisation in the school" and neglected the power of its school's prefects and teachers. It gained huge criticism throughout the nation and even caused the formation of a specific committee at national-level in combatting this problem.^{[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37]}

References

External links

• http://www.staripoh.com
• http://www.psbstar.watch-media.info
• http://www.budakstar.net
• http://www.staroba.org/