By Miss Yin Kam Yoke

We thank Almighty God for giving Miss Moey to us to serve in our Methodist schools for over 12 years, in MBSS KL and MBSS Sentul in various capacities as teacher and principal.

A natural leader, she has been able to inspire commitment and excellence in both teachers and students by who she is, a person wonderfully and fearfully made by God. All give of their best because Miss Moey gives of her best. She exudes enthusiasm and positivism because her centre is completely focused on God and His commandment to love Him and to love her fellowmen.

I find Miss Moey an exceedingly well-balanced person. She has been a builder of buildings, of bricks and mortar, not by design but by destiny; however she has been more than that - a builder of character and nurturer of souls. Generations of students will call her blessed because she has challenged their characters for the better.

She is wonderfully up-to-date - of a vintage where it is easy to rest in the comfort zones, she has wired up the school - with 1 multimedia laboratory already in place, another on its way, other areas with WIFI and science laboratories made into "hotspots". Yet she is the epitome of old-fashioned values - right is right; wrong is wrong - the truth is not to be bent or distorted. The students are clearly taught good, solid moral values of truth, honesty, diligence, responsibility and fairplay to guide and mould them to be people of character, people of integrity, people of significance, people of destiny.

She is inspirational and dynamic but at the same time she is painstaking and meticulous. A great leader but at the same time she works alongside her team to make them shine.

Miss Moey has been blessed by God with many gifts but only one gift He has withheld from her - the gift of biological children. In that regard, a college principal shared with me his sadness that he had no children of his own. I racked my brains to answer him. This was my answer:

A Greek philosopher once said, "A man must do 3 things in his life - plant a tree, write a book and have a son." Miss Moey, you have certainly planted a tree - the centenary tree of MBSSKL, you have written not one book but many books - in the lives of all the children you have taught and of course being an educationist, you have sons and daughters aplenty!

John C Maxwell says a good leader reproduces himself. I am very sure that Miss Moey has reproduced replicas of honesty, integrity, passion, zeal and zest in generations of MBSS KL, MBSS Sentul and SMK Kepong Baru students and teachers. Wherever she has traversed, Miss Moey has enriched their lives and enabled them to reach greater heights. This is the trademark of a truly transformational leader.

Now after 32 years in Government service, Miss Moey, you deserve a well-earned rest, perhaps to the scenic English Lake District. But after that, we sincerely hope you will come back to us to serve in one of our private Methodist educational institutions. For teachers never truly retire - they just exchange one area of service for another. And of course, in God's service, we never retire.

Miss Moey, on behalf of the Methodist Council of Education and our Bishop Dr. Hwa Yung, I thank you most deeply for your years of labour in our Methodist schools. Nothing we can do can ever adequately recompense you for your love and care lavished on the students.
 
May God's grace and favour shine upon you both now and forever. Those who lead many to righteousness shall shine like stars forever and ever.

May I offer you now an amended Irish blessing?

May you always have work
for your hands to do.
May your pockets hold always
a ringgit or two.
May the sun shine bright on
your window pane.
May the rainbow be certain to
follow each rain.
May you always have a school to head,
students to inspire and teachers to lead.
May you always have B.K. students to teach.
And the Bible Knowledge Oral Quiz to judge.
May the hand of a friend always be near you
And may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Thank you.

Speech given at Miss Moey's Retirement Dinner on August 6, 2005 at the Parkroyal Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

Today, (March 1, 2006) Miss Moey Yoke Lai, principal par excellence, with impeccable credentials (a Colombo Plan Scholar 1969 - 1973) has come on board as the Chief Executive Officer of Methodist College Kuala Lumpur. Our heartiest congratulations to Miss Moey! Welcome to our world of private Methodist education. We know you will give of your best to Methodist College Kuala Lumpur. May God's choicest blessings be upon you as you helm the College.

by Miss Yin Kam Yoke,
Education Secretary