KOTA KINABALU: Chinese clan association leaders should be open to opinions and criticism, said the United Society of GuangDong Province Association Sabah honorary adviser, Tan Sri Andrew Liew Sui Fatt.
He said clan associations often work with other clan associations in matters pertaining to the benefits of the Chinese community.
“I hope association leaders are open to different opinions and criticisms, rather than regarding different views as noise,” he said when officiating at the second installation ceremony of The United Society of GuangDong Province Association Sabah for year 2012-2014 here on Friday.
Likewise, he said the committee of the federation should be receptive to constructive opinions in overcoming issues.
The federation was established on November 20, 2009.
Liew also urged the federation to stay united and together contribute towards the betterman of the clan associations, society and nation.
Meanwhile, The United Society of GuangDong Province Association Sabah chairman Datuk Jimmy Yong Kyok Ming said the federation has set up a foundation with the aim of raising funds in order to acquire a shoplot for the association.
The plan, as Yong said, is to rent the ground floor unit to cover the association’s expenses, while the upper floor will be used by the association.
He thanked the association’s honorary advisor Datin Vicky Lai for donating RM50,000, which gives a total sum of RM80,000 at the association’s bank account.
Yong added that the association has invited all GuangDong based associations in Sabah to join the federation.
“There are 400,000 Chinese population in the State, while the GuangDong clan makes up more than 300,000 of the Chinese population.”
He pointed out that the Chinese people here were unable to unite in tackling issues affecting the Chinese community as there were many Chinese associations and Chinese political parties.
Hence, Yong said the priority was to unite GuangDong based associations, and work with other federations in uniting the Chinese in Sabah in order to fight for the rights and benefits of the Chinese community.
Yong added that the federation also aimed to strengthen the ties with GuangDong province in China.
He said this enabled the federation to act as a bridge and provide assistance if members face any problems in China or seeking cultural and education interaction with their counterparts in China.
Also present at the ceremony were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Edward Khoo Keok Hai, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Edward Yong Oui Fah, Assistant Minister of Infrastructure Development Datuk Pang Yuk Ming, The Federation of Kwang Tung Associations Malaysia president Datuk Tan Ten Pong, Federation of Chinese Associations (FCAS) deputy president Datuk TC Goh, The United Society of GuangDong Province Association Sabah chairman Datuk Jimmy Yong Kyok Ming, deputy president Datuk Susan Wong and Luyang assemblywoman Melanie Chia.