KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 — Former students of St John’s Institution are thrilled to have the school’s original name restored as it is an important part of its heritage.
It was reported yesterday that SMK St John’s would be called by its original name of St John’s Institution. The announcement was made by Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, who studied at St John’s between 1969 and 1970, during the school’s 2016 Academic Excellence Award ceremony.
Former national shuttler and coach Datuk James Selvaraj, who studied at St John’s between 1956 and 1967, thanked Sultan Nazrin for personally looking into the renaming of the school.
“As a former alumni himself, the sultan knows the value of having the original name. My schoolmates and I thank him for making it happen,” he said.
“It is good news to hear that the name of the school has been restored and to get that little slice of history back.”
Businessman Louis Joseph, who was a student at the school between 1977 and 1988, said restoring the name had struck a chord with former students.
“This is a historical school with a great heritage and part of that heritage is its name. It is wonderful to hear of the restoration and it is greatly appreciated,” he said.
Louis, who said the school’s name had been changed between 1990 and 1991, considered the reversion a step in the right direction.
“We have recaptured and preserved a little of our history. Hopefully, this is the school’s final name change,” he said.
Specialist writer Tony Mariadass, who studied at St John’s between 1971 and 1975, said the move was relevant with the desire of students who felt part of the school’s history had been returned.
“It is recognition of the school’s history and contribution. No one would like their own name changed. It is good to have the original name restored,” he said.
“I wonder if this may start a trend of reverting other schools back to their old names, such as Victoria Institution. It will be interesting if that is the case.”
Current school principal Puvanendran V. Maruphavamar, who briefly studied at the school in 1976, said restoring the name was in line with the school’s status as a heritage site.
“St John’s is 112 years old and is rich in tradition and history. It is only right to recognise that by restoring the school’s name,” he said.
Puvanendran said it was an honour and privilege for the school’s name to be restored and the move would preserve the school and its history.
