Nanyang University was established in Singapore in 1954 and merged to form the National University of Singapore in 1980. In its existence of 25 years, it produced 10,908 graduates.

Although Nantah (short name for Nanyang University in Chinese) no longer exists, its legacy lives on deep in the hearts of its alumni and friends. You find many Nantah graduates in all walks of live: business, education, public services etc. Many Nantah graduates are also successful academics in various countries.

What led a seemingly successful university to its demise? Perhaps the climate of its environment changed and whether we like it or not, the university also made mistakes. I do not agree that Nantah should be closed down 30 years earlier. It is painful to dig out old wound and in the Spirit of Reasonableness, let us forget.

Nantah alumni as an entity has its strength. It is closely knitted as you may have possibly seen from the various Nantah web sites, notably http://www.nantah.com and http://www.nantah.org. Its Eighth Worldwide Reunion will be held on 14 to 16 June 2002 on Labuan Island, East Malaysia. The organiser is a fine lady alumna, 66 and always wishes to do something worthwhile for Nantah during her life time such as organising a worldwide reunion. I wish her well and pledge all my support.

In all the previous reunions of Nantah alumni, there were strong rhetorics of re-establishing Nantah in Singapore. The last reunion was held in Vancouver, Canada in June 2000 and attended by 700 alumni and guests. The theme: Cross Century Spirit of Nantah is so abstract that I do not exactly know what it means. It is time that we put more emphasis on delivery and consider building a humble Nantah College like the one shown on the left. It is something less abstract.

Why Nantah College? Why Kuala Lumpur?

The answer is simple. Malaysia is arguably the most progressive country in the region. It has a strong leadership with the vision of multi-media corridor and building the country towards 2020. Colleges are flourishing and being built everywhere in Malaysia. It is the teaching staff and students that make the institution, not the big buildings and naming symbol. Therefore the name Nantah College is perfectly fine. No one would have problem with the name of Dartmouth College and after all, it is an ivy league university in the United States. The White Deer Cave College in the above picture was started in China in Tang dynasty. For almost a thousand years, it was considered a centre of excellence in China for philosophy and literature.

It is my personal opinion that Nantah College must blend in with the education policy of Malaysia and cater for the needs of its people. To promote the trade and understanding between Malaysia and China, the emerging superpower, the importance of having an institution with strong emphasis on Chinese Studies is self-explanatory. Apart from building a School of Chinese Studies, consider building a School of Information Technology as well. Both Schools have to be the best in the region.

I sincerely hope that the Cross Century Spirit of Nantah is still well and truly alive and let us start a forum on the establishment of Nantah College in Kuala Lumpur.

Nantah Forever! We shall overcome.

You are most welcome to air your views by sending your articles in Chinese or English to be published in this web site. My email address is [email protected].

Recent discussions on matters related to Nantah are found in the following web pages (in Chinese):

http://www.nanyang.com.my/20000618/articles/18-6-2000g53.htm

http://www.nanyang.com.my/20000618/articles/18-6-2000g54.htm

http://www.nanyang.com.my/20000619/articles/19-6-2000g58.htm

http://www.nanyang.com.my/20000629/articles/29-6-2000g26.htm


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