Cover Story
01 Jul 2013

Episcopal Address for 30th MCKL Anniversary Dinner

Source/Author: By Bishop Dr. Ong Hwai Teik

This is the address given by Bishop at the MCKL dinner celebration on 13th July 2013

Distinguished guests, honoured friends and supporters, members of the MCKL community past and present, ladies and gentlemen.

We bless the name of God for this 30th Anniversary Celebration of the Methodist College, Kuala Lumpur. We thank Almighty God for His many blessings in these 3 decades where he has given able and excellent staff, grew and increased our student population steadily, gave us committed Methodist people and churches who loyally and sacrificially volunteered their services, time and expertise, faithful
intercessors who gave MCKL an invisible but necessary covering, and the generosity of benevolent supporters who gave out of gratitude and shared conviction of the vision and mission of this establishment.

The aspiration of the Methodist Church in Malaysia, is expressed
in the crafted statements of Vision, Mission and Belief of the MCKL, do allow me to read them to you: "Vision" - The College of Excellence for Life.

"Mission" - To nurture
a community where excellence, in all its forms, is celebrated; and where individuals come alive to their God-given ability to make a unique difference in the world.

"What we believe in" - We believe
in the potential of all Collegians to rise to his or her calling as stewards of God’s creation. Their time at MCKL should foster a joy for learning, and an intelligent appreciation of the beauty of nature, and the inalienable worth of every human being. This will lead to a life-long passion for making a significant difference to their families, society and the nation.

This is very much in conformity to the United Nations Universal Declaration Human Rights pertaining to EDUCATION: Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

So it is the DREAM of the MCIM that the MCKL be an expanded 1st CLASS institution with commensurating facilities and SPACE that produces GLOCAL CITIZENS excelling in academics, armed with productive job market skills, but always grounded in a character of integrity.

By God’s INSPIRATION AND GRACE, it is my prayer and goal that together with your help and support of our community, MCKL will produce wholesome graduates who SHINE IN THEIR COURSE OF STUDY, SKILFUL IN THEIR CHOSEN PROFESSIONS, BUT ARE ALSO PEOPLE OF INTEGRITY: MORAL IN CHARACTER, PRINCIPLED IN ACTION, TRUSTWORTHY IN DEALINGS, AND ARE ACCOUNTABLE AT ALL TIMES.

It is our aim that our graduates will contribute to the world OUTSIDE, with an authentic character on the INSIDE; graduands who will not only add value to the economy and prosperity of this nation, but also add value to the soul of this nation.

In this light, we in the Methodist Church in Malaysia, are most appreciative
of the words of our late 3rd Prime Minister, Tun Hussein Onn, at the launching of the Methodist Education Foundation in 1986:

“From their inception, Methodist Schools have been in the vanguard of nation building. They have transcended the narrow confines of ethnicity, religion, language, culture and socio-economic boundary. Methodist schools continuously endeavour to develop each individual’s potential and to encourage interaction with others so that everyone will become an integral part of the total school community. I believe these are important strategies that will create awareness of multi-racialism and will foster the spirit of mutual respect, understanding, oneness and loyalty. They will also enhance social values such as tolerance, cooperation and harmony between different communities. The records will reveal that Methodist schools have long been involved in the promotion of national unity – even long before Merdeka.”

We in the Methodist Church and especially in MCKL, are truly grateful to you for your present and continuing generous support – as we together share in the vision of building a better Malaysia, a longing that the civil society in Malaysia encompassing all races, cultures and religions longs for.

Thank you for joining us by your encouragement, support and giving at this 30th Anniversary THANKSGIVING DINNER – as we pursue building a better Malaysia by equipping and empowering our young people TODAY in building a better Malaysia of TOMORROW.

As we dream and work towards a better Malaysia - please permit
me to conclude by reading the words of our beloved 1
st Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, in a written message addressed to the Kuala Lumpur Methodist Afternoon School magazine, dated 8th October, 1963 – almost exactly 50 years ago: the TONE, PURPOSE AND APPEAL – remain very much the same - half a century later.

Thank you. May God bless you all.