Former Sacred Heart students meet again after 30 years

0

(Seated from fourth left) Salahuddin, Norkiah, with SUPP Dudong branch chairman Datuk Dr Soon Choon Teck, Lee (seated second and third left), and Sacred Heart Secondary School’s Class of 1985 (Form 5) posing for a photo session.

SIBU: Some 40 former students of Sacred Heart Secondary School finally got to meet one another after a 30-year separation.

Former student and head prefect Hii Chang Kee said the gathering of Class of 1985 (Form Five) students who are scattered all over Malaysia and abroad would not have been possible without WhatsApp and Facebook, thanks to the Internet.

ITA College CEO Dato Seri Dr Benny Lee, a fifth former in 1985, hosted the lunch on the third day of Chinese New Year for the group at his house as all restaurants had been booked due to the festive celebration.

Hii, who is Sibu Municipal Council secretary, said yesterday he thanked Lee for offering his house as the gathering place thus making the reunion possible.

He described the gathering as a walk down the memory lane where they shared a lot of fond memories of the school days, adding that after the Feb 16 gathering, he would organise another grand one on April 3 at Kingwood Hotel targeted for 80 to 100 people.

He said among those who had indicated their attendance are about 20 teachers from Sibu and Kuching.

Some participants will come from Peninsula Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia.

“The touching part is that many have even booked hotels and air tickets for the event,” said Hii.

Hii said the gathering at Lee’s residence was made merrier with the presence of former Head of State Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng and wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Norkiah who paid Lee a Chinese New Year visit.

Meanwhile, Lee praised Hii for his effort to organise the re-union, and he wished to see the gathering become an annual affair.

“It is a privilege to meet up again after 30 years at around 48 years old, and let’s not wait for another 30 years to meet again,” he said, adding that such coming together could also serve as an avenue for business networking or sharing of opportunities.