Cutting of the anniversary cake by the dignitaries.
KAPIT: Some 700 Foochows on Saturday evening gathered at Kapit Civic Centre for Kapit Foochow Association’s 90th anniversary celebration.
The association was set up in 1928 by Foochows who settled at the countryside as farmers planting rubber and pepper who gradually ventured into business in the town.
Association chairman Sii Bang Ee in his welcoming speech welcomed all present to share the joy of the celebration.
“We thank the early pioneers for their far-sightedness in setting up the association and the leaders who served with dedication and commitment to keep up the associations’ objective to provide social welfare to members and at the same time to encourage children to excel in education through the annual cash incentives,” he said.
He was proud to announce that the association now has more than 500 registered members and is the only association in town to have the youth wing, women wing and veterans section.
To ensure the association stays relevant, he called on its leaders to be committed and sincere in serving the association and its members and set aside personal agenda.
“Leaders come and go, but the association stays. The present youth must take their role in the youth wing seriously to learn leadership quality and be prepared to shoulder greater responsibility in the future,” he exhorted.
Sii also expressed confidence in a better future for Kapit Division with the building of the Baleh dam and being home to the Bakun and Murum dams.
Among the many guests who spoke at the function were Kapit MP Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi and Bukit Goram assemblyman Jefferson Jamit.
The highlight of the evening was the cutting of the giant 90th anniversary cake and presentation of mementos as appreciation to the veterans who had contributed greatly to the wellbeing of the association.
Pupils from Tadika Chung Hua presented the ‘Welcoming Dance’ and Persatuan Tari Kapit performed the ‘Tarian Asli’ to entertain the crowd.
Among those attending the gathering were some 300 representatives from 43 Foochow associations in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Brunei, Labuan and Sarawak.
Sii (third right) presents a memento to the representative of a veteran.