By Zaki Salleh
Photo: Perak Heritage Association
IPOH: The original building of Anderson School, located on Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab, is set to become a memory as structural changes are currently underway.
However, it remains unclear what exactly these changes entail, as the rear part of the building has also been demolished.
It is understood that this 115-year-old heritage building has long been left vacant.
Formerly known as Douglas Road during the colonial era, the building, with neo-classical architecture, was designed by AB Hubback at a cost of $45,000 Straits Dollars.
Looking back at its history, the success of the establishment of the Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK) led the Perak government to open an English school in Ipoh on February 6, 1909.
It was named after Sir John Anderson, the British High Commissioner to the Malay States at that time.
With an H-shaped design, this building housed 10 classrooms and a hall.
In 1921, a boys’ dormitory was built. The increasing number of students caused Anderson School to move to a new building on Jalan Ashby in 1931.
Following this move, the building was then used as the Headquarters of the First Battalion of the Federated Malay States Volunteer Forces (Perak) until 1941.
After World War II, the building was made the Secretariat of the State of Perak in line with the relocation of the state’s administration from Taiping to Ipoh.
It also housed the office of the Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) and the Perak State Assembly until the Seri Perak building was constructed. Later, the building was used as the Federal Office.
