FOR BRIGHTER FUTURE: Wong (right) hands over a study incentive award to a student. From left are organising chairman Lee Sing Chiew and clan chairman Lee Kwong Tung.
SIBU: Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh has called on Chinese clan members to move out of their own circles and interact with the rest of the world.
Speaking at the installation of Sibu Lee Clan Association on Saturday night, he said they must break out of their four walls and participate in nation building so as not to remain stagnant.
“Social involvement should begin with oneself and then move out to commitment within the family before moving into the society, then working towards national development.”
He said as Malaysians, they must be concerned with matters relating to national interests as nation building needed the involvement of all.
“This should be the awakening in a multi-racial community – stay high and look forward together in the spirit of 1Malaysia.”
On Chinese surnames, he said there were altogether 11,931 groups in the world, with Lee surname topping the other groups.
Apart from the installation of its committee, the gathering was also to celebrate mid-autumn festival, senior citizens day to honour their elders, and a ceremony to present excellence awards to deserving children of clan members.
Wong described the occasion as a gathering of four-happiness.
On the mid-autumn festival, he said it carried a wide cultural significance as it marked the ancient farming community’s joy of harvest, solidarity of the people in overthrowing the Tartar rule and the romantic legend of a wood cutter, a rabbit and a fairy in the moon.
He also regarded the cultural festival as a romantic moment that called on the people to partake in dance, music and poetry.
On education, he said the Chinese community had always regarded it as the core of social development, where strong emphasis is placed on improving life through knowledge.
“There is a Chinese proverb, saying, if you study hard, you will have a beautiful wife and a house made of gold. The message behind is, if one studies hard, he will see promising life ahead.”