Hin Hua clan dedicated to contributing to the nation

0

So (front row, fourth right) and Ong (front row, sixth left) wishing everyone a happy and prosperous Year of the Goat.

SIBU: Hin Hua clansmen have always supported the government and worked closely with other communities in nation-building, says Sibu Hin Hua Poh Sen Association president So Teck Kee.

He said this had been so since their forbearers first settled here over a century ago.

Speaking at the association’s Chinese New Year gathering recently, So said there were now some 36,000 Hin Hua clansmen here with the majority of them living in Sg Teku and Sg Merah.

“They’ve vast areas of land, and I would encourage them to make good use of them for economic gains,” he said, pointing out it was equally important that they helped to promote their culture.

“Of course, education is important too, especially for our children,” he added.

So said Hin Hua people had their origin in Putien Province, China.

He said the mayor of Putien City would lead a delegation to visit Sibu next month to explore business opportunities and the possibility of having joint education and culture programmes with the locals.

“On our side, we shall seek joint programmes with them in health and tourism fields,” he said.

Honorary president-for-life cum advisor of the Federation of Heng Ann Malaysia Dato Jeffry Ong Eng Hong, who officiated at the gathering, described 2014 as a ‘calamitous’ year for
Malaysia.

He singled out the floods in Cameron Highlands and the aviation incidents as tragedies that had claimed many lives.

“The MH370 incident alone had curtailed arrivals of Chinese tourists by 12 per cent, and caused 70 per cent of Chinese tourists to visit Thailand instead for their Lunar New Year holidays,” he noted.

Ong also praised Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi Adenan Satem for being an exemplary leader who is fair to all races.

The allocations of RM3 million for the Chinese independent secondary schools in the state last year and RM4 million for the same this year were evidence of his care for Sarawakians regardless of race, Ong added.