GEORGE TOWN: It was a significant and historic marble plaque with hand-beaten lead lettering discovered among the ruins of the bombed-out St Xavier’s Institution (SXI) building after World War II.

       But when ex-Xaverian Datuk Loh Hoot Yeang discovered it in 1945 after clearing out the bomb site as a contractor then, he did not think much of it.

       "He did, however, have the foresight to carefully store the important relic for posterity, (and) we later realised (it was) an important piece of history," said Laurence Loh, the son of Hoot Yeang.

       Laurence, a heritage conservationist who was also an ex-Xaverian of the Class of 1966, said the plaque was discovered by his father after the Japanese Occupation during World War II in Penang.

       "Back then, my father was hired as a contractor to clear out the site of a bombing at the SXI building, and he chanced upon this plaque which he brought home to keep.

       The plaque details a list of names who were donors of the school.

       "This allows us an insight into the central figures of Penang’s 1880 society who contributed to educational purposes regardless of race or religion," said heritage conservationist Lim Lin Lee.

       Lim, who is one of the conservationists for the renowned Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion alongside Laurence, said the plaque was a historic artefact of the school.

       "This plaque is a testament of the openness of Penang society back then. The donors are of different backgrounds, races and religions but it did not stop them from giving for education.

       "The China vice-consul general and agent for the Empress Dowager back then, Cheong Fatt Tze, donated in the name of his company as did Chua Yu Kay, an owner of Penang’s largest rice mills and steamship companies.

       "These traditionalists saw fit to send their own sons to study at SXI, including the famed Kapitan Chung Keng Kwee, whose son studied in SXI as well," he said.

       Lim said other groups included people who went on to become wealthy philanthropists along with individuals from the German and Dutch business communities.

       "The plaque shows an important piece of school history and as cultural heritage conservationists, we are compelled to give it back to the school," she said.

       SXI principal Goh Hong Peng, who received the plaque in a simple ceremony at the school here on Friday (Oct 29), said they are grateful for the restoration and return of the plaque to the school.

       "We are looking to display the plaque at our heritage hall here in the school," he added.

       SXI board of governors chairman Victor Tan said the school is looking to renovate and build a heritage centre at one of its halls by April next year.

       "This will cost some RM500,000 and the hall will be divided into three galleries. But at the moment, we are still looking for more funds and we hope our old boys could chip in," he added.