Melaka: The concluding part of this two-part series highlights how Henry Gurney School (SHG) Telok Mas has produced state and national athletes, particularly in Muay Thai and boxing, through the Mission Podium Project. Their debut at the 2018 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) stunned many, delivering one gold and two bronze medals for Melaka. Since then, athletes nurtured by Henry Gurney School (SHG) Telok Mas have continued to leave their mark on the biennial national sporting spectacle.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the trend looks set to continue at the 2026 Selangor SUKMA, where eight athletes -- seven men and one woman -- will carry Melaka's hopes when the Games begin on Aug 15. It is a remarkable transformation for an institution once known solely as a rehabilitation centre for juvenile offenders convicted by the courts. For decades, the 'Henry Gurney' label carried a heavy social stigma, one that often followed its residents well into adulthood, making reintegration into society an uphill battle.
Today, however, that perception is steadily changing. Year after year, SHG Telok Mas has demonstrated that with the right opportunities, discipline, and support, young offenders can rebuild their lives and emerge as accomplished athletes representing not only their institution, but also their state and the nation.
In 2017, the Malaysian Prisons Department joined forces with the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) and the Melaka State Sports Council (MSN) to launch Project Henry, aimed at identifying and nurturing sporting talent among trainees while giving them a second chance to build meaningful lives after returning to society. Following the school's breakthrough success at the 2018 SUKMA, KBS expanded its sports development programme to include boxing, Muay Thai, and weightlifting, creating pathways for promising athletes to progress to the national squad.
The initiative was rebranded as the Mission Podium Project in 2023, but its objective remained unchanged, using sports as a tool for rehabilitation, instilling discipline, and providing young offenders with opportunities to rewrite their futures. For Melaka, athletes from SHG Telok Mas have become reliable medal contributors, living up to expectations at every SUKMA since 2018.
At the 2022 edition, they secured four bronze medals in Muay Thai, while in 2024 they won one silver and two bronze medals in boxing. Boxing remains the school's main focus for this year's Games.
SHG Telok Mas director Triyo Kurniawan Kusmadi believes the true measure of the programme's success lies not in medals, but in the lives it transforms. "Our trainees must prove that they can succeed," he said. "They must show society, their families, and themselves that they are capable of changing. When they leave here, they should be able to earn a living, become financially independent, and contribute positively to society."
He stressed that even the most decorated athlete cannot succeed in life without discipline, describing it as the foundation that determines whether trainees can sustain their progress after leaving the institution. SHG Telok Mas, the country's first Henry Gurney School, began operating officially in 1949 as the High Moral School, a rehabilitation centre for young offenders. Managed by the Malaysian Prisons Department in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, it was renamed in May 1950 after then British High Commissioner to Malaya, Sir Henry Gurney.
The school is also one of only three Henry Gurney Schools nationwide that accommodate female trainees. Malaysia currently has four such schools, including two in Sabah and one in Sarawak.
For 18-year-old weightlifter Suhaila (not her real name), sports has become far more than an opportunity to compete. It has been the turning point in her life. Once someone who easily gave up when faced with challenges, she never imagined she would one day achieve success she could be proud of. Through structured training, daily discipline, and encouragement from her coaches, Suhaila gradually rebuilt her confidence.
"I used to give up very easily," she told Bernama. "But sports taught me to get back up every time I fell. Eventually, I began believing that I, too, had the potential to succeed. Now I believe I still have a future worth building."
According to Muay Thai coach Wan Mohd Alwi Wan Mohd Nor, who has trained SHG athletes since 2018, the most significant transformation he has witnessed is not their fighting technique, but their attitude. "Training isn't just about teaching them how to compete," he said. "We teach them to respect their coaches, respect their teammates, and observe discipline. Over time, we see remarkable changes. They become more confident, communicate better, and begin believing they can succeed just like any other athlete."
He said sports allows trainees to develop a new identity, while success in competition gives them the confidence to prove their worth to society. "My hope is that once they leave, they will continue applying the values they have learned through sports to build better lives. I also hope society will see them as individuals striving to change, rather than continue judging them for their past."
Sports psychologist Associate Professor Dr Garry Kuan said sports is an effective vehicle for resocialisation and personal development, particularly for young people undergoing rehabilitation. He said many juvenile offenders struggle with emotional instability, damaged self-identity, and limited social support, while sports provides a safe environment for rebuilding confidence.
Consistent training not only improves physical fitness, but also strengthens self-esteem, self-belief, and a sense of belonging as part of a team. "Sports functions as practical behavioural therapy," he said. "When they begin to see themselves as athletes and members of a team, they gradually shed the negative labels that once defined their lives. Cognitively, they learn to plan, think strategically, and solve problems. Emotionally, they become calmer, develop better impulse control, and build resilience in dealing with failure. Socially, they acquire communication, leadership, and teamwork skills, making it easier for them to reintegrate into society."
Dr Kuan said the discipline acquired through training also reshapes the way young people think and make decisions. By setting goals, exercising self-control, and understanding that effort brings rewards, they gradually develop a mindset focused on the future.
"In my view, sports is not merely about producing athletes. It is a powerful instrument for transforming lives. For young people in rehabilitation institutions, it can become a turning point, helping them break free from cycles of negative behaviour while providing a platform to build a more meaningful future. We should not regard sports as merely an extracurricular activity. It is a strategic psychosocial intervention that simultaneously addresses physical, psychological, and social development."