First Assembly for Boards of Governors, principals, held in Penang

Apr 15, 2016

By Vincent D’Silva
“There is already an agreement between the government and the mission schools on the duties, responsibilities, rights and limits of the mission authority, both on the side of the Malaysian government as well as on the mission schools.”

Bishop Sebastian Francis made this remark in his opening address at the First General Assembly for Boards of Governors (BOG), principals and senior assistants, at the Stella Maris Retreat Centre.

Some 70 participants comprising boards of governors, parentteachers associations, principals, teachers, lay people, priests, religious and invited guests attended the one-day programme themed Together We Can make A Difference, organized by the Penang Diocesan Mission Schools Council (PDMSC).

Bishop Sebastian, who is also the president of the PDMSC, said this Assembly is historic in the sense that it is the first of its kind in this diocese, adding that, “it is significant and timely, as it creates an avenue for all of us to exchange ideas and views for the betterment of our mission schools, which have their own characteristics.”

He pointed out that “Most of all, we will definitely provide an invaluable opportunity for all of us to get to know each other and to forge positive working relationships for the good of our mission schools.”

The bishop made it clear why we have jurisdiction over these schools, even though they may be government-aided schools.

The bishop mentioned that the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Penang, by an Act of Parliament known as the ‘Roman Catholic Bishops’ Incorporation Act of 1957’ which was revised in 1992, clearly states: “The Right Reverend Monsignor Francis Chan, the Titular Roman Catholic Bishop of Penang, and his successors in office, shall be a body corporate (hereinafter called “the Penang Corporation”) and shall, for the purpose of this Act, have the name of “The Titular Roman Catholic Bishop of Penang” and by that name have perpetual succession and shall have, and may use, a corporate seal which may, from time to time, be broken, changed, altered and made anew as to the Penang Corporation deems fit.”

The Act further reads that the Penang Corporation may acquire, purchase, take, hold and enjoy movable and immovable property of every description and may sell, convey, assign, surrender and yield up, mortgage, demise, re-assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any movable or immovable property vested in it upon such terms as to such Corporation may deem fit and may sue and be sued in respect of such property in any Court.

So from this, Bishop Sebastian said that the role of the Church in mission schools, and behind the mission schools, is the mission authority and this authority comes from an Act of Parliament.

Therefore, the prelate said, we are not registered under the Registrar of Societies or Registrar of Companies and it was important to clarify this.

The bishop went on to say that the Penang diocese, which comprises of five states, is the owner of 23 schools which come under the Titular Roman Catholic Church (TRC) of Penang.