GEORGE TOWN, Feb 3 ― Penang Free School (PFS) has been declared a Malaysian heritage site and its grounds and all its venerable structures will be preserved, The Star reported today.

"Yes, we will now protect our school bell and every brick too,” said PFS board of governors chairman Datuk Abdul Rafique Abdul Karim.

The oldest English school in Southeast Asia is now 202 years old.

Many VIPs had walked through its aisles as students, from the Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail, to Malaysia’s first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, legendary artiste Tan Sri P. Ramlee and former All-England badminton champion Datuk Eddy Choong.

"We thank the National Heritage Department for considering PFS as a heritage site and hope to work closely with the department to maintain the heritage status of the school. Any renovation or additional alterations will now have to follow the heritage guidelines,” Abdul Rafique added.

The notice of designation of site as heritage site was dated January 18, undersigned by Heritage Commissioner Datuk Dr Zainah Ibrahim for "Lot 2738, Section 6, Penang Free School, George Town”, which is owned by the Federal Land Commissioner, The Star added.