‘Save St Thomas’ petition close to signature target

GEORGE TOWN: The online petition to save St Thomas in Kuantan, one of the top missionary schools in the country, is edging closer to its target of 25,000.

The petition, urging the Federal Government to stop changing the name of mission schools in Malaysia, was launched 12 days ago and 23,415 people have signed it as at press time yesterday.

This is welcome news for some 30,000 former students who have studied in the primary and secondary schools since 1950.

The old boys formed a “Save St Thomas” group to persuade the authorities not to change the name to Mahkota Abdullah.

Their spokesman Abdul Rahman Abdul Razak, 56, a United Kingdom-trained pharmacist, said their action plan included the printing of “Kekalkan St Thomas” and alumni T-shirts, caps, banners and a forum in Kuantan.

“It is our history and pride. We don’t want the school’s history to be erased. It is not just a school for us but an institution,” he said.

Abdul Rahman said the school brings fond memories as his brothers Abdul Mutalib, 53, and Abdul Halim, 46, brothers-in-law Dr Zamri Abdul Rahim, 58, Zahrim Abdul Rahim, 56, and Zahiran Abdul Rahim, 52, studied there.

“It was among the best in the east coast and nationwide because of the guidance and dedication of former principals and teachers.

“We studied in a multiracial environment and were 1Malaysia long before the slogan became famous,” he said.

Last month, Pahang Health, Human Resources and Special Functions Committee chairman Datuk Norol Azali Sulaiman said the Government would spend RM56mil to build a complex for the two schools and they would no longer bear the name St Thomas and instead would be called Mahkota Abdullah.

Deputy Education Minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan said the name St Thomas ceased the day the church took back the land and the onus was on St Thomas Church if it wants the school’s name to continue.

Pahang Regent Tengku Mahkota Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah’s consort, Tengku Puan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah Sultan Iskandar, earlier said that since the new school was built by the Government, the name Mahkota Abdullah could be used as the Tengku Mahkota had studied there.

Last month, the online petition was started by Rebecca D’Cruz, the eldest daughter of the school’s longest serving principal M.N. D’Cruz.

To sign the petition, log on to http://chn. ge/2iXDnfM

The parish priest of St Thomas Church, Rev Father Patrick Boudville, declined to comment.