The Big Tree near the Big School at the Malay College is also dying as a result of the termite infestation.
The dormitories at Malay College Kuala Kangsar are empty and in a sorry state.
Education director-general Datuk Abdul Ghafar Mahmud said a detailed report on the problem would be ready by the end of the week after which it would be sent to the ministry's finance division to request for funds to carry out the repair works.
"This is not just for MCKK, but for all premier, cluster and full boarding schools."
"This is not just for MCKK, but for all premier, cluster and full boarding schools."
Ghafar said the damage would be rectified immediately.
Yesterday, the New Sunday Times reported that the school's landmark Greco-Roman building and hostel portion -- referred to as the Big School -- had been declared unsafe for habitation. The affected main block houses 10 dormitories.
The termite attack -- which has threatened to dim the school's appeal as a national heritage since 2005 -- had forced students occupying the affected dormitories to move to other hostel blocks since the start of the school year.
The termite attack -- which has threatened to dim the school's appeal as a national heritage since 2005 -- had forced students occupying the affected dormitories to move to other hostel blocks since the start of the school year.
According to school head Anand Baharuddin, school authorities identified the problem last year and a subsequent inspection by a pest control company revealed that almost the entire Big School, which has 21 dormitories accommodating about 500 students, was badly infested.
Only the main dining hall, which is on the lower floor of the affected section, remains in operation although the fate of the entire main block -- the most-recognisable feature of the fully residential school -- remains a concern with termites eating away the ceiling and floor boards.
Even the school's iconic grand old raintree, fondly known as the Big Tree, appeared to be dying as a result of the termite infestation.
MCKK, established in 1905, is a premier boarding school and has an outstanding history.
In 2005, it was declared a national heritage and was recently categorised as a cluster school and also a high-performance school.
The unoccupied section of the Big School has further deteriorated in condition and is in a sorry state with some parts of the ceiling jutting out and dust collecting all over.
source: NST
MCKK was declared a national heritage in 2005, which was 100 years after the date of its establishment in 1905. It is logic that it would suffer some damage due to aging. what is not logic is that no actions have been taken in the past to identify these damages and even the possibility of deterioration was not measured. It is a very old building, and just like human, it needs care as it grows older, it's as simple as that. but maybe it's too late for that now since things have happened as reported above. It may seem unimportant to others, but to those whose mckk is very close at hearts, it is heart-wrenching and unacceptable. i read one article written by an old boy about this unfortunate incident and i became speechless, what he had written portrays sadness, anger, disappointment, i don't know, i just couldn't find the right words to describe what he feels, it's just so deep, and yes it is heart-wrenching even by just reading his article.
now that the situation has reached this stage, it's somehow the government's responsibility as well to aid in the restoration of the building. besides being a national heritage, it is also a school, a place where the students grow up in, they need the Big School, it is one big, important part of the school. in the year MCKK was declared a national heritage, there was an act enacted by the Parliament of Malaysia called National Heritage Bill 2005 in which its objective or mission statement is:
An Act to provide for the conservation and preservation of National
Heritage, natural heritage, tangible and intangible cultural heritage,
underwater cultural heritage, treasure trove and for related matters.
well, i do hope that this act still exist and is functioning. may the Big School of MCKK and even the other parts of it can be restored and repaired to a better state, it's for the students, the old boys, those whose MCKK is what makes them who they are today, and those who live their lives with hearts full of its pride. Yes, i'm just an outsider, but I know someone who can cry and die for mckk, and that pride, my respect for it, and reading the many articles by the old boys, have moved me so much. just read them yourself, maybe you will understand how it feels.
http://sarawakmansang.nst.com.my/nst/articles/19mckk/Article/index_html
http://www.mcoba.org/news/2-mckknews/296-mckk-dorms-in-sorry-state-have-clear-rescue-plan
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