Be open to criticism, Chinese associations’ leaders urged
KOTA KINABALU July 15, 2012: Chinese clan association leaders should be open to opinions and criticism, said the United Society of GuangDong Province Association Sabah honorary adviser, Tan Sri Andrew Liew Sui Fatt.
He said clan associations often work with other clan associations in matters pertaining to the benefits of the Chinese community.
“I hope association leaders are open to different opinions and criticisms, rather than regarding different views as noise,” he said when officiating at the second installation ceremony of The United Society of GuangDong Province Association Sabah for year 2012-2014 here on Friday.
Likewise, he said the committee of the federation should be receptive to constructive opinions in overcoming issues.
The federation was established on November 20, 2009.
Liew also urged the federation to stay united and together contribute towards the betterman of the clan associations, society and nation.
Meanwhile, The United Society of GuangDong Province Association Sabah chairman Datuk Jimmy Yong Kyok Ming said the federation has set up a foundation with the aim of raising funds in order to acquire a shoplot for the association.
The plan, as Yong said, is to rent the ground floor unit to cover the association’s expenses, while the upper floor will be used by the association.
He thanked the association’s honorary advisor Datin Vicky Lai for donating RM50,000, which gives a total sum of RM80,000 at the association’s bank account.
Yong added that the association has invited all GuangDong based associations in Sabah to join the federation.
“There are 400,000 Chinese population in the State, while the GuangDong clan makes up more than 300,000 of the Chinese population.”
He pointed out that the Chinese people here were unable to unite in tackling issues affecting the Chinese community as there were many Chinese associations and Chinese political parties.
Hence, Yong said the priority was to unite GuangDong based associations, and work with other federations in uniting the Chinese in Sabah in order to fight for the rights and benefits of the Chinese community.
Yong added that the federation also aimed to strengthen the ties with GuangDong province in China.
He said this enabled the federation to act as a bridge and provide assistance if members face any problems in China or seeking cultural and education interaction with their counterparts in China.
Also present at the ceremony were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Edward Khoo Keok Hai, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Edward Yong Oui Fah, Assistant Minister of Infrastructure Development Datuk Pang Yuk Ming, The Federation of Kwang Tung Associations Malaysia president Datuk Tan Ten Pong, Federation of Chinese Associations (FCAS) deputy president Datuk TC Goh, The United Society of GuangDong Province Association Sabah chairman Datuk Jimmy Yong Kyok Ming, deputy president Datuk Susan Wong and Luyang assemblywoman Melanie Chia.
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Chinese clan association leaders should be open to opinions and criticism so that they can learn from their mistakes and improve themselves to better serve the Chinese community.
BalasPadamThere are various Chinese political parties and associations in Sabah, it's best they can unite for the sake of serving the Chinese people in the state.
BalasPadamKalau takut dilambung ombak, jangan bina rumah di tepi pantai.
BalasPadamKritikan untuk membina memang bagus tapi kritikan untuk menjatuhkan tu yang xbagus.
BalasPadamjadi kita kena menilai setiap kritikan yang dibuat.
PadamTeriam sekiranya untuk kebaikkan.
BalasPadamItulah pasal kalau kritik dapat membina dan membetulkan kesilapan ok juga. Tapi kalau sebaliknya itu yang kita tidak mahu.
BalasPadambumiputera Sabah juga perlu bersatu untuk memperjuangkan kepentingan kaum bumiputera di negeri ini..
BalasPadamOn the subject of open to critism, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai said the mass media in the country is critical at times but it is a fact that must be accepted by everyone, including him, since Malaysia is a democratic country. "We live in a democratic society and there is a certain degree of press freedom, so I never have any qualms about any of the media, which so far have been very kind to me," he said.
BalasPadamAccording to Dr Yee, who is also Resource Development and Information Technology Minister, the media practitioners are all professionals like other careers such as engineers, architects and doctors."As professionals, I am confident that you will do a good job and I would like to stress here that having a good relationship with the media is an important aspect in the lives of public figures," he added.
BalasPadamDr Yee said this when witnessing the swearing-in of the Kota Kinabalu Jounalists Association 2012-2015 office-bearers.He also expressed confidence that the association, under the current leadership, will grow from strength to strength.
BalasPadamMeanwhile, newly-elected KKJA Chairman, Jimmy Goh, expressed the association's gratitude to its Advisors who, for the past 20 years, have been assisting KKJA without any conditions."We hope our Advisors will continue to support us because without your assistance, KKJA will not be where it is today," he said.
BalasPadamGoh also disclosed that KKJA hopes to be able to purchase another piece of real estate so that it can collect a regular income for its welfare programmes, especially the education fund for its members' children.He added that as KKJA is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, it will be organising several activities including a fund-raising golf tournament which will be organised by its Recreation Officer, Desmond Qwek.
BalasPadam