SIBU: Host chairman of the Seventh Biennial Global Convention of the Union of World Liu Clansmen Association, Temenggong Vincent Lau, said another body under the Liu clan had been formed last year to develop entrepreneurial opportunities.
THE BRIDGE OF FRIENDSHIP: Clansmen from Guangdong posing for a group photograph with native maidens in Bawang Assan on Sunday.
Speaking at the banquet to mark the convention closing on Sunday, he said their Union of World Liu Clansmen Association was officially registered four years ago towards communal development, and now they had another outlet to broaden their business scope.
He said they had gigantic tasks in bringing clansmen together, and through their two associations, they must work to promote goodwill and spin developmental opportunities.
“Our task is a global coordination because we are serving a body of 80 million Liu clansmen worldwide.”
He said the formation of the two associations had put the clan community under their wings, and they had listed their objectives to serve their community.
He admitted there were clansmen who said hosting goodwill gatherings was insufficient.
“They felt there must be efforts to pool resources together to create greater developmental opportunities.”
To the convention’s honorary adviser Lau Cheng King, he felt the Malaysian host had not only brought worldwide clansmen together for goodwill, but also brought them to the world.
“We have found an active interaction among clansmen of different countries. This has helped knitted our organisational network.”
As the convention theme implied, he said the clansmen would now surge as “One People, One Root and One Dream”.
To the vice chairman of the host committee, Penghulu Philip Law Buong Wu, he hoped their network would be strengthened through online links.
“Then, we shall not only meet in conventions every two years, we shall have ample time in the (internet) link to promote trade, tourism and commerce.”
In the three-day convention, which began last Friday, overseas clansmen had given their thumbs-up to the host.
Most were surprised that although Sibu was such a small town, the folks were able to perform such a great task.
They regarded warm hospitality and friendship as the two key factors which led to the successful hosting.
Head of the clansmen from Thailand, Liu Luoyou, when speaking to reporters, were full of praises for the Sibu host team.
He said they had provided excellent services to make them feel at home.
Liu led a delegation of 43 clansmen from Thailand.
Although this was his first visit here, he said Sibu had left a deep impression in him.
He commended the locals for being hardworking, saying the elders had placed education a top priority for their children to help their community grow.
He said the clean streets and clean air of Sibu had also impressed him. The headman was also surprised to see street names in Chinese.
Vice-chairman of Guangdong clan association, Liu Guangxing, said the event in Sibu amounted to “almost perfect hosting”.
“As the next host in 2012 in Guangdong, we should return to learn from Sibu team.”
He said he had been to Malaysia before but mostly in Peninsular Malaysia.
He admitted he had never heard of Sibu, “and now I am here, I have seen with my own eyes this great place”.
The overseas participants were also taken on a tour to the longhouses and Yu Long San Temple, the largest in South East Asia.