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Victoria Institution

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Victoria Institution (VI)
Map
Jalan Hang Tuah, 55200
,
Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia
Information
TypeAll-boys secondary school
MottoBe Yet Wiser - To be a scholar, sportsman and a gentleman
Established14 August 1893; 133 years ago (1893-08-14)
Principal
En Abd Samad bin Othman
GradesForms 1 – 6
GenderMale
Co-educational (Form 6)
Colours  Oxford Blue
  Cambridge Blue
AccreditationCluster School of Excellence
NewspaperThe Seladang
YearbookThe Victorian
AlumniVictoria Institution Old Boys Association (VIOBA)
Websitesites.google.com/moe-dl.edu.my/victoria-institution/

The Victoria Institution (commonly known as VI) is an all-boys secondary school in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[1] It is one of the earliest and most prominent secondary schools in the city and was established as a memorial school commemorating the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887.[2]

VI is a secondary school for male students only from Form 1 to 5. Female students are accepted for Form 6 (Lower and Upper) and the students are known as Victorians.

Victoria Institution in 2025

History

[edit]
Victoria Institution in 1905

VI was founded following a public subscription initiative to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887.[1] The school was further supported by financial contributions from the Sultan and government of Selangor, as well as prominent residents of Kuala Lumpur.[2]

The foundation stone was laid on 14 August 1893 by Lady Treacher, wife of the then Resident of Selangor, Sir William Hood Treacher.[2] The school officially opened on 28 July 1894 at its original site along what is now Jalan Tun H.S. Lee.[1]

Due to frequent flooding from the Klang River, the school relocated to Shaw Road (now Jalan Hang Tuah) on 26 March 1929.[3]

THE BRITISH REOCCUPATION OF MALAYA SE6801
General Officer Commanding Malaya Command, Lieutenant General F W Messervy KBE, CB, DSO, receives the sword of General Itagaki, Commander of the Japanese 7 Area Army, which controlled Malaya, Java, Sumatra, Nicobar and Andaman Islands, parts of Borneo and Siam, at a formal ceremony of surrender held in the grounds of VI

On 13 September 1945, the Victoria Institution was the site of the formal surrender of the 29th Imperial Japanese Army to Lieutenant-General Ouvry Roberts of the British 34th Indian Corps.[4][5]

The old building was then used for the premises of the Technical College up until the 1950s when the new Technical College building at Jalan Gurney (now Jalan Semarak) was completed and officially opened on the 1 March 1955 by Sir Donald MacGillivray, the British High Commissioner to Malaya.[3]

It then housed High Street School before relocated to Setapak High School.

From the 1980s, the old premises were managed as a cultural centre known as Taman Budaya and later came under the administration of the National Department for Culture and Arts.[6]

National heritage designation

[edit]

On 14 February 2009, the Victoria Institution building at Jalan Hang Tuah was declared a National Heritage site by the Malaysian government. It was listed by the Department of National Heritage under the category of heritage buildings. On the same day, Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal announced that SMK Victoria would revert to its historic name, Victoria Institution, following its designation as a national heritage site.[7][8]

Postage stamp

[edit]

On 16 December 2008, Victoria Institution was featured in Pos Malaysia's Premier Schools postage-stamp issue. The issue consisted of four 50-sen stamps featuring SMK St. Thomas in Kuching, SMK Victoria (Victoria Institution) in Kuala Lumpur, SMK Convent Bukit Nanas in Kuala Lumpur, and SM All Saints in Kota Kinabalu. The Victoria Institution stamp bore the name "SMK Victoria (Victoria Institution), Kuala Lumpur" and the school's founding year, 1893.[9]

Pos Malaysia's Premier Schools postage-stamp
The Cambridge Blue colour as used in the original badge

Campus

[edit]
The Main Hall at E Block.

The school campus features a clock tower flanked by two sports pavilions overlooking a large central field. It also includes a 25-metre swimming pool and athletics facilities.

Aerial view of VI
Victoria Institution front view
The main building with the two pavillions facing the field
View from Jalan Hang Jebat

Student leadership and traditions

[edit]

Prefect system

[edit]

Student leadership at Victoria Institution includes a prefect system that has historically played a role in school discipline and governance. An opinion column in Malay Mail described the school’s prefects’ board as among the earliest established in the region, highlighting its longstanding influence within the school community.[10]

Co-curricular activities

[edit]

Victoria Institution maintains a cadet corps as part of its co-curricular activities, and according to the school’s official background information, the unit was established in 1901 by the school’s first headmaster, En. Bennet Eyre Shaw[11]

The Pasukan Kadet Bersatu Malaysia (PKBM), with which school cadet units are aligned nationally, was formally established under the Pasukan Kadet Bersatu Malaysia Act 1967 (Act 68).[11]

Victoria Institution Cadet Corps Infantry (V.I.C.C.I)

Sports

[edit]

Rugby

[edit]

Victoria Institution has a long-established rugby program and regularly competes in the Super Schools Rugby (SSR) championship, Malaysia’s premier inter-school rugby competition.

Victoria Institution has appeared in four finals of the Super Schools Rugby competition since making its tournament debut in 2017, winning the championship twice and finishing as runners-up twice.

Victoria Institution in Super Schools Rugby finals
Year Opponent Score
(VI–opponent)		 Result
2017 Malay College Kuala Kangsar 10–8 Champions[12]
2023 SEMASHUR 21–7 Champions[13]
2025 MRSM Balik Pulau 13–14 Runners-up[14]
2026 SEMASHUR 33–37 Runners-up[15]

The school also organises the annual Victoria Institution Premier 10s Rugby Tournament, which has been reported as a significant event in the Malaysian schools rugby calendar.[16]

Victoria institution rugby

Football

[edit]

The Victoria Institution football team has achieved success at state and national levels, winning the Manchester United Premier Cup Malaysia in 2009 and 2013 and representing Malaysia at regional competitions.[17][18]

MU Premier Cup

Cricket

[edit]

Cricket has a long association with Victoria Institution. The school competes in cricket competitions organised by the Majlis Sukan Sekolah Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur (MSSWPKL), the Kuala Lumpur Cricket Association and the Malaysian Cricket Association.

Victoria Institution won three consecutive MSSWPKL under-18 cricket championships from 2024 to 2026. The school won the 2024 final by eight wickets,[19] retained the championship in 2025,[20] and secured its third consecutive title in 2026.[21]

The school also represented Kuala Lumpur in the 2024 National Champion Schools Cricket Championship for boys under 17. Victoria Institution finished third after winning the third-place playoff by 45 runs. The team scored 119/8 before dismissing its opponent for 74 runs.[22]

Selected Victoria Institution cricket achievements
YearCompetitionCategoryAchievement
2024MSSWPKL Cricket ChampionshipUnder-18Champions[19]
2024National Champion Schools Cricket ChampionshipBoys under-17Third place[22]
2025MSSWPKL Cricket ChampionshipUnder-18Champions[20]
2026MSSWPKL Cricket ChampionshipUnder-18Champions[21]

In 2002, the Malay Cricket Association of Malaysia established one of its two national cricket development centres at Victoria Institution, with the other centre located at Penang Free School. Two full-time coaches from Sri Lanka were recruited to train primary- and secondary-school players at the centres.[23]

On 10 April 2026, the Malaysian Cricket Association designated Victoria Institution as the tenth State Centre of Excellence under the National Cricket Development Programme. The centre was established through cooperation between the Malaysian Cricket Association, the Kuala Lumpur Cricket Association and Victoria Institution.[24]

The Victoria Institution cricket ground has also hosted international competitions. It was used as a venue during the 1997 ICC Trophy.[25] The ground subsequently hosted List A group-stage matches during the cricket tournament at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, including Pakistan against Scotland[26] and Malaysia against Jamaica.[27]

Swimming and water polo

[edit]

Victoria Institution alumnus Sieh Kok Chi, who attended the school from 1952 to 1958, represented Malaya and Malaysia in water polo and won silver medals at the 1965, 1967 and 1969 SEAP Games. He later served as Honorary Secretary of the Olympic Council of Malaysia from 1992 to 2013 and as Secretary General from 2013 to 2015.[28]

In swimming, Khiew Hoe Yean won seven gold medals and one silver medal at the 2019 ASEAN Schools Games while a Form Five student at VI.[29] He later represented Malaysia in the men's 400-metre freestyle at the 2024 Summer Olympics.[30]

Another swimmer who attended the school, Muhammad Dhuha Zulfikry,[31] won six gold medals at the 2024 Malaysia Games and broke Malaysia's 35-year-old men's 1,500-metre short-course freestyle record that year.[32]

VI Green as the main ground for rugby, football and cricket

Headmasters and Headmistresses

[edit]

The following is a chronological list of headmasters and headmistresses of Victoria Institution.[33]

No. Name Tenure Notes
1G. W. Hepponstall1893Acting
2Bennett Eyre Shaw1894–1922
3R. F. Stainer1897Acting
4Rev. Knight-Clark1900Acting
5J. H. Tyte1905Acting
6William J. Proudlock1910Acting
7C. G. Coleman1914Acting
8M. WheatleyApr 1922–Feb 1923Acting
9Richard J. H. SidneyFeb 1923–Feb 1926
10G. C. DaviesFeb 1926–Jun 1930
11R. F. GunnJun 1929–Aug 1929Acting
12Frederick L. ShawAug 1929–Mar 1930Acting
13Edgar de la Mothe StowellJun 1930–Dec 1930Acting
14Frederick L. ShawJan 1931–Jul 1936
15H. R. CareyFeb 1934–Nov 1934Acting
16J. B. NeilsonJul 1936–Jun 1937
17C. E. GatesJun 1937–Jan 1942
18E. H. WilsonNov 1939–Aug 1940Acting
19M. VallipuramFeb 1946–Sep 1946Acting
20Ng Seo BuckOct 1946Acting
21Frederick DanielOct 1946–May 1949
22E. M. F. PayneMay 1949–May 1952
23A. H. HillJul 1951–Dec 1951Acting
24A. GodmanMay 1952–Jul 1952Acting
25J. N. DavisJul 1952–Apr 1953
26G. P. Dartford1953–1955
27A. AtkinsonMay 1954–Dec 1954Acting
28Peter RobertsMay 1955–Dec 1955
29Gerwyn E. D. Lewis1956–1962
30A. G. YoungApr 1958–Aug 1958Acting
31Lim Eng ThyeFeb 1961–Aug 1961Acting
32Alan D. Baker1962–1964
33V. Murugasu1964–1969
34Tan Cheng Or1970–1971
35V. Somasundram1971–1973
36Victor Gopal1973–1976
37Abdul Rahim bin Che Teh1976–1978
38Baharum bin Othman1978–1979
39Abdul Shukor bin Haji Abdullah1979–1982
40Abdul Rahim bin Abdul Majid1982–1988
41Shuib bin Dahaban1988–1992
42Robeahtun Haji Ahmad Damanhuri1992–1995
43Othman bin Husin1996
44Salha Othman1996–1998
45Baharom Kamari1999–2001
46Taslim Sarbini2002–2003
47Muhamad Khailani Abdul Jalil2004–2007
48Azizah binti Othman2008–2009
49Maslan bin Buniran2010–2016
50Kamarul Azman bin Md Arif2016–2020
51Nur Elisa Tee Lee Hwa2021–2023
52Abdul Samad bin Othman2023–Incumbent

Alumni

[edit]
Vioba club house victoria institution
Victoria Institution Old Boys' Association, the school's alumni

The school's alumni organisation, the Victoria Institution Old Boys' Association (VIOBA), was founded in 1922 and remains active in Malaysia and abroad.[34]

Notable alumni

[edit]

Royalty

  • Hassanal Bolkiah – Sultan of Brunei; attended Victoria Institution in Kuala Lumpur from 1961 to 1963.[35]

Politician

Military

Banking

  • Ismail Mohamed Ali – second Governor of the Central Bank of Malaysia and Chairman of Permodalan Nasional Berhad.[46]

Business

Diplomacy

Economics

Law and judiciary

  • Anuar Zainal Abidin – Malaysian jurist and former Chief Judge of Malaya; served in the Malaysian judiciary for over 30 years before retiring as Chief Judge in 1997.[51][52]
  • Gunn Chit Tuan – Malaysian jurist and former Chief Justice of the High Court in Malaya [53]
  • Gopal Sri Ram – Malaysian lawyer and former Federal Court judge [54]
  • Mahadev Shankar – Malaysian lawyer and former Court of Appeal judge.[55]
  • Yong Pung How – Singaporean jurist and former Chief Justice of Singapore [56]
  • Tommy Thomas – Malaysian lawyer and former Attorney General of Malaysia (2018–2020)[57]
  • Mohd Zaman Khan – Malaysian police officer and former Commissioner General of the Malaysian Prisons Department [58][59]

Sports

Medicine

Arts

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 Gullick, John M. (2000). A history of Kuala Lumpur 1857 - 1939. MBRAS monograph. Singapore: MBRAS. ISBN 978-967-9948-15-8.
  2. 1 2 3 Victoria Institution: The First Hundred Years, 1893–1993. Victoria Institution Old Boys’ Association. 1993.
  3. 1 2 Majlis Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur: The First 100 Years. Kuala Lumpur City Hall. 1990.
  4. ↑ "British Reoccupation of Malaya (SE6801)". Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  5. ↑ Allen, Louis (1976). The end of the war in Asia. London: Hart-Davis MacGibbon. ISBN 978-0-246-64063-5.
  6. ↑ "Kompleks Budaya Negara (Taman Budaya)". Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  7. ↑ "Victoria Institution, Kuala Lumpur". Jabatan Warisan Negara. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  8. ↑ "116-year-old school gets heritage status today". The Star. 14 February 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  9. ↑ "16 December 2008 – Premier Schools". Malaysia Ch.50 2008 Special Issues (Report). Malaya Study Group. 2023.
  10. ↑ Latiff, Ibrahim Suffian (13 August 2015). "Victorians will be yet wiser". Malay Mail. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  11. 1 2 "Latar Belakang – Victoria Institution". Victoria Institution (Ministry of Education Malaysia). Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  12. ↑ Lee, C. Y. (22 May 2017). "Dream debut for Victoria lads". The Star. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  13. ↑ "Super Schools Rugby 2023: Disiplin pemain resipi kejuaraan Victoria Institutions". Flash Sukan (in Malay). 24 September 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  14. ↑ "MRSM Balik Pulau get landmark win over two-time champs VI". The Star. 28 July 2025. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  15. ↑ Rahulesh, T. (13 July 2026). "Super finish as Semashur, Aras reign in schools rugby finale". The Star. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  16. ↑ "Battle of the champions". The Star. 10 April 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  17. ↑ "VI wins the right to represent Malaysia at MUFC regional finals". The Star. 4 June 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  18. ↑ "Victoria Institution wakili Malaysia ke final serantau MUPC". mStar. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  19. 1 2 "Final: SMK (L) Methodist vs Victoria Institution". Kuala Lumpur Cricket Association. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  20. 1 2 "Kejohanan MSSWPKL 2025 – 18 Tahun Ke Bawah: Match results". Kuala Lumpur Cricket Association. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  21. 1 2 "MSSWPKL 18TKB 2026 – Results". Kuala Lumpur Cricket Association. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  22. 1 2 "Third position: Victoria Institution vs SMK Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar". Malaysian Cricket Association. 27 April 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  23. ↑ "The Malay Cricket Association of Malaysia – Since 1950". Malay Cricket Association of Malaysia. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  24. ↑ "Victoria Institution designated as 10th State Centre of Excellence under National Cricket Development Programme". Malaysian Cricket Association. 10 April 2026. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  25. ↑ "Carlsberg ICC Trophy 1997 – Schedule". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  26. ↑ "Pakistan vs Scotland, Commonwealth Games 1998". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  27. ↑ "Malaysia vs Jamaica, Commonwealth Games 1998". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  28. ↑ "The OCM Mourns The Passing of Dato' Sieh Kok Chi". Olympic Council of Malaysia.
  29. ↑ Lim, Teik Huat (25 July 2019). "A splash like no other". The Star.
  30. ↑ "Hoe Yean falls short in record quest at Paris 2024". The Malaysian Reserve. 27 July 2024.
  31. ↑ "Swimmer Dhuha relieved SEA Games athletes can sit SPM after event". The Sun. Bernama. 16 October 2025.
  32. ↑ "Piala Dunia Renang Akuatik: Dhuha Zulfikry padam rekod 35 tahun Jeffery Ong". Stadium Astro. 20 October 2024.
  33. ↑ Doraisamy, John (1993). Victoria Institution: The First Century, 1893–1993. Kuala Lumpur: VI Centenary Celebrations Committee. ISBN 9838080225.
  34. ↑ "Victoria Institution Old Boys' Association". VIOBA. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  35. ↑ "Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muʿizzaddin Waddaulah". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  36. ↑ "Prabowo recalls childhood days in KL". New Straits Times. 22 November 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  37. ↑ "S. Rajaratnam". National Library Board Singapore. National Library Board. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  38. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Victorious Victorians". The Edge Malaysia. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  39. ↑ Sejarah Politik Selangor. Arkib Negara Malaysia.
  40. ↑ "Mohd Shafie Bin Apdal profile". MYMP. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  41. ↑ "SMK Victoria dikenali semula Victoria Institution". mStar. 14 February 2009. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  42. ↑ "Bangunan Victoria Institution". Jabatan Warisan Negara (in Malay). Government of Malaysia. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  43. ↑ "Former Armed Forces chief Hashim Mohd Ali dies". Bernama.
  44. ↑ VENGADESAN, MARTIN (14 September 2025). "Courage and sacrifice: Veteran commander recounts his battles | New Straits Times". Nst.com.my. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  45. ↑ "PTL 5: Laksamana Muda Tan Sri Dato' Seri K. Thanabalasingam (Bersara)". Royal Malaysian Navy. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  46. ↑ "BNM book on Tun Ismail will leave readers in awe". Bernama. 10 October 2018.
  47. ↑ "Ananda Krishnan". Wikipedia. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  48. ↑ "Accountants Today March 2004" (PDF). Malaysian Institute of Accountants. March 2004. p. 8. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  49. ↑ "An ambassador's emotional walk down memory lane". Freemalaysiatoday.com. 30 June 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  50. ↑ "Cover Story: Speaking his mind". The Edge Malaysia. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
  51. ↑ "Former Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Anuar dies". Malaysian Bar. 18 May 2008. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  52. ↑ "Former chief judge of Malaya dies". New Straits Times. 19 May 2008. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  53. ↑ "In Memoriam: Tan Sri Gunn Chit Tuan". Malaysian Bar. 23 May 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  54. ↑ "Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram". Malaysian Bar. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  55. ↑ "Culture & Society – MAHADEV SHANKAR – The Living History Project". Thelivinghistoryproject.com.my. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  56. ↑ "Farewell reference to Mr Yong Pung How". Supremecourt.gov.sg. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  57. ↑ "Profile: Tommy Thomas". Malaysian Bar. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  58. ↑ "No-nonsense Zaman Khan". New Straits Times. 22 June 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  59. ↑ "Dirotan kerana pura-pura pengsan". Sinar Harian. 14 June 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  60. ↑ "Dato' Dr. M. Jegathesan". Pustaka Ilmu. Arkib Negara Malaysia. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
  61. ↑ "Indian cricketer Lall Singh Gill once owned a nightclub in Paris". The Telegraph India. 21 December 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  62. ↑ "Lall Singh: The Malaysian who broke boundaries in Test cricket". Free Malaysia Today. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  63. ↑ "The Malaysian founder behind Nobel prize-winning anti-nuclear group ICAN". The Straits Times. 16 October 2017.
  64. ↑ Raja Ahmad, Raja Zainal Abidin (2011). The Early Malay Doctors 1905–1957. Malaysian Medical Association.
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