MBS Heritage Centre

Dato Ong Boon Kheng Building (10 January 2014)


MBS Heritage Centre is a centre documenting the history of the Methodist Boys School. It occupies the ground floor of the Dato' Ong Boon Kheng Building, the latest wing of the school.

Portrait of Reverend Pykett, flanked by that of Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon and Tun Abdullah Badawi (10 January 2013)


Dato' Ong Boon Kheng Building was dedicated to Rev. Dr. Hwa Yung, the bishop of the Methodist Church of Malaysia. The foundation stone was laid by Dato' Ir. Ong Boon Kheng himself, on 18 January, 2010. It took just over a year to be completed, and it was jointly opened by the Chief Minister of Penang, Mr Lim Guan Eng, with Dato' Ong, on 9 October, 2010.

School senior assistant Mr Ooi showing the MBS History Timeline (10 January 2013)


The MBS Heritage Centre provides an insight into the history of the school. A detailed timeline recounts the various important chapters in the school's development. Various memorabilia donated by former students form a large portion of the centre's keepsakes. These include the racing jacket won by Kuan Meng Heng, the son of Penang motorcycle legend Bulldog Kuan (Kuan Huah Chin). Other items on display include the poems by Peranakan author Raymond Kwok, Thomas Cup and All England winners' medals, and more.

Bulldog Kuan's racing attire (10 January 2014)


Thomas Cup Gold Medal (10 January 2013)


A while section of the MBS Heritage Centre is given over to celebrate its most famous sons. Taking prominent position in the Hall of Fame is its famous respected headmaster, the Reverend G.F. Pykett, who served numerous terms from 1891 to 1932. His portrait takes centre stage beside two prominent politicians who once schooled at MBS: former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi (Class of 59) and former Chief Minister of Penang, Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon (Class of 66).

Raymond Kwok with his photograph at the MBS Hall of Fame (10 January 2013)


Raymond Kwok pointing to his name on the MBS School Register (10 January 2013)


The school register from way back when is also kept within the MBS Heritage Centre. From the register, former students can trace back their registration into the school. Among the details on the wall include history of the scouting movement in Penang, which began largely out of MBS. Details of all the former head prefects are also listed, and there is even a poem by Pak Lah who studied Form Six at the school.

A complete model of the Methodist Boys School is kept in one of the rooms of the MBS Heritage Centre. It provides visitors a birds-eye view of the school, including the recently completed Dato Ong Boon Kheng Building.

In addition to Methodist Boys School itself, the heritage centre also provides a history of the Pykett Methodist School, saving the details for posterity considering the primary school will cease operating due to dwindling number of students in the inner city area.

Getting there

The MBS Heritage Centre is located on the right side of the main school building of the Methodist Boys School.

View MBS Heritage Centre in a larger map