 It is originated from the efforts of a Buddhist nun called Hong Lien who set up the Phor Tay institute as an orphanage in 1936  She came from the province of Xiamen in China to propagate Buddhism in Penang, Malaysia.After the war, the school was rebuilt with Ong Dong Shu, who had previously taught in Yangon and Makassar becoming the school's first principal until retiring for health reasons in 1958.Philanthropist Aw Boon Haw contributed towards the building.