Batu Gajah - Sitiawan

On 6th September, 1997 I drove all the way to Batu Gajah to attend the meeting of the Lions Club of Batu Gajah. This was the home turf of past District Governor Oon Peng Nam. From the given address for the meeting, I soon realized that the club held their meeting in a coffee shop. President Leo Anthony and other Lions including PDG Oon, Cheah Nyuk Phin, and Andrew Phung were present. Many Lions extended their apologies for missing out. The meeting went through smoothly and I was delighted to meet up with PDG Oon.

After the meeting, I proceeded to Sitiawan and checked into the posh Orient Star Hotel in Lumut. The drive can be a bit taxing, so I took a 20-minute nap to recharge! Later, I met up with the President of the LC of Sitiawan, Neoh Ah Huat, and the Lioness President, V Grace Siamala. The three of us chit-chatted in the holding room while waiting for the arrival of YB Dr. Yap Yit Thong, the MP for Lumut who was the Guest of Honour. Dr. Yap didn’t keep us waiting; in fact, he popped in on time, escorted by the Lions’ welcoming committee. The formal event started punctually. The installation took place with strict silence from the floor. YB Dr. Yap, in his speech, encouraged the Lions to work closely with the government and the community to eradicate social ills in society. I complimented OC Patrick Fernandez and his committee. Some funds were raised by the effort of Lion R. Rannayah by tail-twisting. He brought a lot of enthusiasm, good fellowship and of course, raised a tidy sum for charity work.


On the next morning, I sat in on a 2 dialogue/Business Meeting with the Sitiawan Lions. The session was held at the Crystal Hotel. This was a fruitful meeting as I learned how the club ran its meetings. I was also encouraged by the young members’ thirst to know more about Lionism with so many diverse questions being put forward. As a former freshie myself, I knew there was this urgent need to conduct orientation courses for freshie Lions. We needed well-informed Lions who would serve the community much better.

My next stop was Teluk Intan at noon. R4C Silvalingam accompanied me on this scenic drive. Zone 9 Chairman Tan Yap Pau was on hand to receive us at the meeting venue. We were just in time to witness a Leo Installation Ceremony. RCC Khor Chee Kang was installing the Leos Officers. I was invited to say a few words of encouragement to the Leos and Leo advisors. The LC of Teluk Intan conducted their business meeting at the Lower Perak Club Conference Room. President Benny See chaired the meeting and I was privileged to sit in to participate in the proceedings. The club later presented a cheque that they had raised for the Starving North Korean Children Fund. 

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