A THUNDEROUS standing ovation, a touching moment of silence and a feeling of nostalgia is how best describes the mood at a dinner originally meant to celebrate the datukships conferred on three La Salle brothers, all former Brother Directors of the St.Xavier Institution in Penang, for their meritorious services to education in the country.
Brother Lawrence Spitzig was conferred the datukship by the Agong in February in conjunction with the Federal Territory Day while Brother Michael Jacques and Brother Paul Ho, the last of the La Salle’s brother principals in Malaysia were conferred the datukships by the Penang Governor in conjunction with his 71st birthday in July.
However, the dinner held at the Bangsar Seafood Restaurant, organised by the Xaverian Club of Kuala Lumpur (XCKL) was a somber affair as the organisers paid tribute to Brother Lawrence who died at the age of 91 on Aug 18.
For remembrance: Ong (left) presenting a memento to Bro Micheal during the dinner at the Bangsar Seafood Restaurant. Brother Ho was also unable to attend the dinner as he is on a US/Europe tour and thus Brother Michael cannot be blamed if he hogged the limelight that night.
Several of his former students at SXI like Dr Goh Cheng Teik and DAP chairman/Jelutong MP Karpal Singh paid tribute to a man who has spent more than 50 years of his life educating and touching the hearts of young Malaysians until his retirement in 1985.
Goh, in his opening speech said: “It so happened that during the years Brother Michael was director of SXI from 1956-1960, it overlapped with the years I attended SXI. I can talk about his achievements but there will be no end to it,’’ he said to applause.
During Brother Michael’s stint at SXI, he made sure that the school was a beehive of activity.
According to Goh, Bro Michael, 93. reached out to all students through his weekly broadcasts, which were listened to with as much interest as Winston Churchill’s wartime broadcasts.
Exchanging info: (From left) Dr Goh, Karpal Singh, Bro. Michael and Murphy Pakiam at the dinner. “The students who refused to discipline themselves had to be caned and many of us here would recall that students were caned publicly, under the supervision of Brother Lau Hor,’’ he said to laughter.
Former Xaverians who were at the dinner would vouch that Brother Michael uplifted SXI and made it an outstanding high school in the English-speaking world during his term as Brother Director.
Brother Lawrence, Brother Michael and Brother Paul Ho had all served St. Xavier’s Institution in Penang, as its Brother Director at one time or another.
Bro. Michael’s achievements at SXI did not go unnoticed as he was spotted by Rome and appointed as Assistant for Asia to the Superior-General of the De La Salle Order.
The La Salle Brothers in Malaysia have vowed to deny themselves all worldly things and honour and dedicate themselves completely to educating the poor everywhere in the world.
“As such, they regard the datukships conferred on them not as a recognition for themselves but a recognition of what the congregation of La Salle Brothers have done for education in this country since 1852. Let us recognise all the Christian Brothers who are still with us in the Penang District. Many are present tonight,’’ said Goh, a former head prefect of SXI and a Harvard scholar.
Goh also called on the need for the involvement of mission schools in education in Malaysia and for the mission schools to be allowed to operate along the lines of the system practised in Hong Kong where the government fully funds both the development and operational expenditure of the schools.
Bro. Michael said although he had retired, his work would still continue.
“Goh has given me 110 while Karpal has given me infinity. I am 93 years old and the fact that I am not forgotten by my former students is testimony that I can go on forever and not let my life waste away,’’ he said to a standing ovation.
Even in retirement, Bro Michael actively serves in different capacities in the various state and national school councils.
Bro. Michael later cut a cake donated by Nikko Hotel and was presented with a memento by XCKL president Jason Ong.
Among the others present was the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam.
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