By Steven Chan – President, Old Paulians’ Association
On the morning of August 5th, 2025, Br. Butch Alcudia FSC, a representative from the La Salle Malaysia Provincialate, paid a courtesy visit to St. Paul’s Institution on behalf of Br. Andrew Loke, La Salle Malaysia’s Brother Director. In keeping with the cherished LaSalle tradition, the purpose of the visit was to formally welcome the newly appointed Principal, Miss Ng Ai Ching, who received her appointment letter from JPN on June 20th, 2025.
Distinguished guests joined this meaningful occasion, including LaSalle Mission Council Chairman Mr. Lim Hock Thiam; the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Dato’ Dr. Bob Samuel; the Old Paulians Association (OPA) Patron, Mr. Ng Yee Tim; OPA President Mr. Steven Chan; the Chairman of the Parents-Teachers Association, Mr. Haridharan; and other members of the Board and Exco Members of the OPA.
Two other significant occasions took place simultaneously in conjunction with this special event: the Br. Felix Donahue Student Welfare Fund Award presentation and the handover of 10 laptops generously donated to the school by Pusat Bakti Madani through the OPA.
During her heartfelt acknowledgment speech, the Principal expressed sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Mission, the Board of Governors, the Old Paulians’ Association, and the Parents-Teachers Association for their unwavering support and dedication to the school. She emphasized that the vibrant spirit of the Paulian community is a cherished value instilled by the LaSalle Brothers.
This spirit inspires pride and happiness within her as part of this Paulian family.
Both Dato’ Dr. Bob Samuel and Br. Butch Alcudia extended their warm congratulations to Miss Ng Ai Ching on her recent appointment and her well-deserved recognition, having been awarded the “Anugerah Perkhidmatan Cemerlang” by the Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan. They expressed confidence that the school would continue to thrive under her leadership and reach even greater heights. Dato Dr. Bob also paid tribute to the De La Salle Brothers, who arrived in Malaysia over 120 years ago, risking hardships, poverty, and adversity to provide quality education.
In his speech, Br. Butch expressed admiration for the enduring Lasallian spirit, noting how many former students continue to return and support the school. Despite the declining number of De La Salle Brothers, the passion and legacy of the Lasallian mission continue to live on through dedicated Lasallians like the Old Paulians’ Association. These individuals, present today and in the future, carry the legacy torch forward with pride and unwavering commitment.
Br. Butch was then honored to present the Br. Felix Donahue Student Welfare Award to ten deserving and needy recipients. The Br Felix Donahue Student Welfare Fund (BFD), established in 2010 by the Class of 1970 during their 40th anniversary, was created to honor the late Br Felix Donahue, who served as their Brother Director at St. Paul’s. Over the years, many of these Paulians have achieved success in various fields. Out of gratitude for their alma mater’s holistic education and inspired by the spirit of giving back, they embody the true Paulian ethos while remaining connected to their roots.

Originally, the fund was set up to support financially needy Form 6 students with academic potential through the OPA. However, following the discontinuation of Form 6 classes in 2022, the focus shifted at the request of the OPA to assist other needy and potential students, particularly from Form 5. Assistance is provided through cash grants to help cover essential expenses such as food, transportation, and stationery. Managed by the OPA, the fund has benefited many deserving students since its inception 16 years ago. Many of these students have pursued higher education at local universities, both public and private. As we distribute the BFD Student Welfare Awards today, we hope these students will excel academically, succeed in society, and, in the future, return to their alma mater to continue the cycle of giving back and embodying the true spirit of the Paulian community.
OPA President Steven Chan personally presented the 10 laptops to Principal Miss Ng Ai Ching. This sponsorship is part of a flagship program by the esteemed NGO, Pusat Bakti Madani (PBM), with whom the OPA takes pride in partnering. PBM is dedicated to creating meaningful and lasting impacts in the lives of underserved and troubled youth, especially in the surrounding areas of Seremban. Through its many signature initiatives, PBM actively engages with young people through equipping them with essential life skills, providing mentorship, and fostering a supportive environment to help them grow, transform, and succeed. We sincerely thank President Lim Eng Hai for his invaluable support. It is our hope that, through the generosity of these laptop sponsorships, we can further empower our students and open up new opportunities, particularly in this digital age of education.
Our heartfelt gratitude goes to all the teachers and students who worked tirelessly to organize this event successfully. Your dedication and efforts are truly appreciated.
