CM: Alumni simply fantastic

PENANG: The state Government has lauded the Alumni Convent Light Street (ACLS) for its tireless efforts in the heritage conservation of the 152-year-old convent. 

Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said the alumni, headed by its president Datuk Ng Poh Tip, had done a “fantastic job” in raising funds for the conservation of the historical building. 

“I hope the alumni, being the committed group that it is, will continue with its fund-raising efforts so that the school’s beauty will be maintained and the convent girls will continue to shine in the country and the world,” he said. 

Dr Koh was speaking at the 12-hall charity screening of Jackie Chan’s latest movie, Around the World in 80 Days at Gurney Plaza’s Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) last night. 

FOR A GOOD CAUSE: Dr Koh cutting the ribbon at the official opening of the Golden Screen Cinemas Multiplex and the launching of the charity premier of 'Around The World in 80 Days' at Gurney Plaza in Penang Thursday night. With him are (from left) Ng, Gurney Plaza director Phuah Choon Meng and Koh.

The charity screening, which was held in aid of Convent Light Street, also marked the official launch of GSC’s second flagship cinema in the northern region. 

Dr Koh said he also had felt compelled to contribute towards the “Save the Convent” effort as the building brought back poignant memories for him. 

“As a young boy, I used to be driven there to pick my sister, who was a student there,” he added. Dr Koh said that when the initial plans for the 1993/94 alignment of the Penang Outer Ring Road (PORR) were drawn up, Fort Cornwallis was supposed to have made way for the alignment. 

“But I said that would be over my dead body as the state needs to preserve the historical site and thus I, too, had in my own way helped to save the convent (which ran along the same alignment),” he added. 

In her brief speech, Ng thanked Golden Screen Cinemas Sdn Bhd for the movie screening and its contribution to ACLS’ fund-raising efforts. 

She also thanked her committee members for their fund-raising efforts for the heritage conservation of the convent. 

Convent Light Street, which was set up in 1852, is the oldest girls’ school in the country. 

To date, ACLS has raised over RM50,000 from proceeds of the charity screening ticket sales. 

Koh Mei Lee, the chief executive officer of GSC, said GSC Gurney Plaza, which had its soft launch on Jan 15, was the second largest GSC flagship cinema after the 18-screen GSC Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur. 

As the 16th cinema under the chain, GSC Gurney Plaza is the first multiplex in the north with THX-certified halls, 80-seater premier class hall and international screen hall with a total seating capacity of 1,833.