SIBU: Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh praised members of the Chinese community for their hard work and determination – many with rags-to-riches experiences.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!: Wong (third left) in front of the anniversary cake with leaders of the Chen clan. On the left is organising chairman Stephen Ting and on second right, clan chairman Ting Huat Chie.
Their forefathers had settled here and struggled hard to survive.
“They left their descendants with this fighting spirit,” Wong said at the 30th anniversary banquet of Sibu Division Chen Clan (Ling Chuan) Association in a hotel last Saturday night.
He said the prosperity enjoyed by their descendants today was the result of their economic contributions, and the celebration was a time to remember their contributions.
“The chairman of Chen Clan Association Ting Huat Chie is himself a fine example of success – being a successful entrepreneur rising from scraps.”
Wong said Ting was a village boy earning a daily pay of RM1.50 when he started as a worker.
Today he is a successful entrepreneur with business links in foreign countries.
He said the descendants of Chinese community should appreciate such hard work, and youths should emulate this fighting spirit.
The Chinese, like other races in Malaysia, built their community with deep affection, care and warmth, he said. Wherever their members went, they brought this culture of excellence with them.
He reminded youths that in this age of globalisation, they must be ready to face the new outlook and shoulder the responsibilities in order to succeed.
“We must be able to change within ourselves, and from there, move out to change our community and nation before we move into the world.”
He advised the people never to be individualistic but grow with society.
“We must not divide people by colour, culture, race and religion or others will isolate us. We must instead build our home in harmony with others to live up to the nation-building efforts of our prime minister in the 1Malaysia spirit.”
Wong hoped members would help build a morally upright community.