KOTA KINABALU: The pro- tem committee of the Malaysian Chinese Restoration Society, Sabah branch, chaired by Yang Chan Tsze @ Teddy Yang has been established.
It was officially approved by the Registrar of Societies (RoS) on April 4, 2014.
The society aims to encourage the Chinese community to innovate and enhance themselves in terms of moral, education and command of language in order to remain competitive and relevant in the future.
Its secretary general, Tang Hiang Lye, said many Chinese people in Peninsular Malaysia had poor command of the Malay language.
“In the old days, parents would tell their children that the Malay language was not important, and this has led to communication barrier and inability to compete with other races.”
In addition, he said many Chinese in West Malaysia did not apply for government welfare because they did not know how to fill in the forms.
In contrast, Tang said many bumiputras now enter Chinese schools to learn Mandarin.
Twenty years later, he said Malays would be able to speak Mandarin, in addition to Bahasa Malaysia, English and Arabic.
In order for the Chinese to remain relevant, Tang said the Chinese must innovate and enhance themselves so as not to lag behind developments.
Meanwhile, its president, Steven Lee Chee Ming, said the Chinese must shed their weaknesses and accept new concepts.
“Today, Malaysian Chinese have lost their direction.”
Many will deny that, he said, but it was a form of avoidance.
“If the Malaysian Chinese do not help themselves, strengthen themselves, enhance themselves, what will we be in the future?” he said in a press conference here yesterday.
With the establishment of the Malaysian Chinese Restoration Society, Lee said the society would recruit more members, set up more branches nationwide, disseminate related information via the media as well as organize seminars, talks, debates and dialogues.
Lee also announced the appointment of Sabah People’s Right Association president Lee Pun Yee as the regional vice president and central committee member of the Malaysian Chinese Restoration Society.
On the other hand, Yang said the standard of Malay language among Sabahan Chinese was still fair.
However, he said many foreigners considered the Chinese community’s command of Mandarin, Malay and English as so-so.
“This is not a good sign for the next generation.”
Hence, Yang said the society provided a good platform for the Chinese to improve and enhance themselves.
Also present was Malaysian Chinese Restoration Society, Sabah branch pro tem secretary Tan Cheng Hwee.