THE OPEN HOUSE ON THE LAST DAY OF EID - PART ONE

    18TH APRIL 2026    ~ An ex-schoolmate of SMS Muar, Puan Aishah, held an Eid Open House on the last day of Eid. It was also done as she will be performing her Haj [Pilgrimage] soon. The event was held at his house in Taman Laguna.

I seldom had the chance to meet up with ex-schoolmates. Today, I was again reunited with Mr. Hasmi, Mr. Mahayuddin Ma'min and Puan Minah Selamat, apart from the host.

I could not stay long as there were two more open houses to attend right after.

Wishing Puan Aishah a safe journey to and fro, and his Haj will be blessed.

VISITING SEKOLAH TUNAS BAKTI [STB] SUNGAI LEREH IN MELAKA

   21ST APRIL 2026    ~ After the visit to Sekolah Henry Gurney [READ HERE], the JKM group then proceeded to the second site which was Sekolah Tunas Bakti Sungai Lereh [STBSL]. This was an all girls' instituition for juveniles, also under the care of Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat.

We were welcomed by the students and staff with a Gamelan performance.

One reason the girls were put under the care of the school is when parents are unable to control the children or to stop the girls from being involved with group that could give bad influence. Sekolah Tunas Bakti provides education to the kids, except the they do not attend school. The teachers come to teach them here instead. For those who cannot do well in academic, vocational training is also given to them. They are like staying in a boarding school.

Sekolah Tunas Bakti (STB) is a rehabilitation institution under the Malaysian Social Welfare Department (Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat) for children and teenagers under 18. It functions as a juvenile detention center designed to rehabilitate youth through education, vocational training, and counseling. 

Key Aspects of Sekolah Tunas Bakti:

• Definition: Often translated as "Tunas Bakti School" or "Rehabilitation School".
• Purpose: To provide rehabilitation, skills training, and education to teenagers involved in social issues or court-ordered rehabilitation.
• Target Group: Male or female juveniles, often within the 13 to 18 age range, who are under court orders.
• Location: There are several schools across Malaysia, including locations in Sungai Besi and Kuching.
• Activities: The curriculum focuses on life skills, vocational training, and formal education to help inmates reintegrate into society.

source: AI Review

briefing by the school admin

This time, we were given the chance to mingle and communicate with the students in smaller groups  in about 30 minutes.

Kompang activity

It was only about a 2-hour visit but it was another positive exposure for us. I am sure each and every delegate had gained something from the one-day trip, visiting two places in Melaka.

THE LATE LUCH SESSION AND A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION WITH EX-COLLEAGUES

Someone is celebrating his birthday today and initially the idea was to just have coffee with him. We tried to extend the invitation to other friends and we successfully managed to gather six people who used to teach under one roof once upon a time.

The chosen venue: Chamek Kopitiam in Taman Universiti. I was there last week for another reunion session [READ HERE].

Four of us have already retired while the other two are still in service.

We eventually had cakes for dessert so as to celebrate Mr. Azhar's birthday. Too bad, my other friends were too shy to sing the birthday song loudly so I was the one who had to do it solo.

We had to part ways by 5:00 p.m.before the road got congested when people rushed home from work. Thanks to my friends of SMK Taman Universiti and hopefully we can do this again real soon.

VISITING SEKOLAH HENRY GURNEY IN MELAKA

    21st APRIL 2026     ~ Pasukan Kebajikan Kanak-kanak [PKKK] (TRANSLATE: Children's Welfare Team) of Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat [JKM] (Translate: Welfare Department) Johor Bahru organized a visit to Sekolah Henry Gurney in Teluk Mas, Melaka. The participants comprised of the staff of JKM, people from Johor Bahru Magistrate Court and others whose job scope was directly related to the juvenile delinquents.

We pushed off from Johor Bahru at about 7:45 a.m. and arrived at the facility at 10:30 a.m.

Sekolah Henry Gurney (SHG) are specialized rehabilitation centers in Malaysia established in 1949, operating under the Malaysian Prison Department to rehabilitate juvenile offenders aged 14 to 21. They focus on education, vocational skills, and character building, offering a second chance to young offenders through formal, structured rehabilitation programs. [1, 2, 3]

Key Aspects of Sekolah Henry Gurney:

Purpose: The primary goal is rehabilitation and social reintegration, not merely punishment. It acts as a final resort for juvenile offenders facing serious charges.

Location: There are five Henry Gurney schools, located in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak. The main, historic school is located in Telok Mas, Melaka.

Curriculum & Skills: Students attend classes, prepare for national examinations like the SPM, and receive vocational training, including automotive repair, gardening, and construction skills.

Legal Basis: Originally under the Juvenile Courts Act 1947, these institutions now operate under the Children Act 2001 and Prison Act 1995.

Life at SHG: It operates similarly to a residential school or detention center, with dorm-style living, uniforms, and high-security measures.

SOURCE: AI Overview

 

ACTIVITY 1: Welcome to Sekolah Henry Gurney, a general briefing at the gate especially about the rules and regulations visitors had to adhere there.

ACTIVITY 2: Briefing about Sekolah Henry Gurney, in a more detailed manner.

 

    ACTIVITY 3: Visiting the Academic Blocks and the classrooms, where the real teaching/learning activities were in progress.

ACTIVITY 4: Watching a [static] brass band performance.

ACTIVITY 5: Visiting the female dormitories and vocational classes.

ACTIVITY 6: Closing ceremony and bidding farewell to Sekolah Henry Gurney.

All in all, it has been an educational visit and should be a kind of an eye-opener to the visitors as people tend to have a very negative perception towards the institution. Instead of punishing, Sekolah Henry Gurney provides education and training to the juvenile delinquents so as to prepare them for the outside world once they are released from there.

NEXT STOP: SEKOLAH TUNAS BAKTI SUNGAI LEREH