by Betsy May Veloo
The iconic colonial building of SMK KGV is finally undergoing long-awaited repair works, much to the delight of alumni—fondly known as Georgians — who have watched the building’s decline with a mix of nostalgia and frustration.
Many are waiting with bated breath to see their beloved school returned to its former glory. Perusing some old photos of SMK KGV, located in Seremban, a former student sighed: “The school used to be so beautiful, but now, looking at it…so sad looking, and it is a prestigious school, too.”
“You couldn’t miss KGV when you are driving around Seremban, with its main colonial building standing tall and proud, with its clock tower…,” another Georgian said.
Now Georgians are abuzz with excitement. Noting the refreshed blue fencing around the main building, many have said that they just cannot wait for its unveiling.
“I am holding my breath,” one very senior Georgian gushed. Other comments include: “I hope it will be as grand as it was.”
“I hope they will use the same colour…white,” another opined.
“I will fly back next year just to see its refreshed look.” “At long last…while I’m still living and breathing,” one Georgian living abroad said optimistically.
SMK KGV’s school management has confirmed that maintenance work on the main colonial building, which began in January last year, is now in earnest and is due for completion in October 2026, a date given by the Public Works Department.
“No new buildings would be built during this time,” Principal Murad Nordin, disclosed. “All work that is being carried out comes under what is called a ‘repair programme’. So only the main blocks of H and I, comprising 10 classes, are under maintenance.”
Despite the construction, classes and other activities have continued uninterrupted as the existing classrooms are sufficient to accommodate the affected students. Since the school’s Form Six students have been transferred over to Tuanku Muhriz Form Six College in Forest Heights, classrooms making up the former F6 block have also been utilised.
“We are using the hostel’s dining hall as a venue for special ceremonies and meetings,” said Murad.
Over the past years, Georgians have been asking, among themselves and on social media, why was it that it was taking so long for the school to be given a facelift.
One of the reasons it took “a bit of time” to spruce up the main facade was due to its status as a heritage building, a source explained. “It is not like you just picking up the phone and calling in the painters. Like every other building or site that has been declared heritage, permission needed to be sought.”
In SMK KGV’s case, permission was needed from the Jabatan Warisan Negara (Department of National Heritage). The school was declared a heritage building in 2008.
Before it became a sekolah kebangsaan, KGV started as a Government English School (GES) in a building at the Seremban railway station on January 5, 1923. Three years later, in October, construction of the main building began on Jalan Hose (now Jalan Za’aba).
Finally, on April 23, 1928, the school, named King George V after the reigning King of England at the time, was officially opened by W. G. Ormsby Gore (later known as Lord Harlech), the British colonial administrator who served as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies when he visited Negeri Sembilan then.
During the Japanese occupation of then Malaya (1941-1945), the school building became the headquarters of the Japanese military police. For those who remembered, a room next to the main hall was also used as a torture chamber by the Japanese soldiers. Later, the iconic building was also temporarily repurposed into an army hospital by the British.
KGV, which eventually became a sekolah kebangsaan, has always stood apart — not just for its academic record or architecture, but also for its unique features, such as a pedestrian tunnel linking its grounds beneath a busy road. It is also one of the few secondary schools in Malaysia to boast of a swimming pool in its compound!
Though SMK KGV celebrated its centenary in 2023, many hope that the renovations will culminate in a major event worthy of its legacy.
“It is in the school’s planning for the 100th anniversary celebration ceremony, depending on its future readiness and the availability of a suitable venue,” Murad revealed. This has got many Georgians all excited, and some sceptical.
“Once the repairs are done, I will breathe a sigh of relief. And then, I shall wait again with bated breath…for the promised centenary celebrations,” said a blue-blooded Georgian.
The writer, Betsy May Veloo, is also a Georgian
(Those who wish to update on the latest developments at their schools or alma mater can contact The Weekly Echo.)
WE