NEP CHINESE

In the 1970's, most of us Chinese did not have the opportunity to pursue the tertiary education after Form 5 or Upper 6 due to the quota in the intake of university students under the NEP, financial difficulties to raise monies for further education, unavailability to get scholarship or loans, few universities and colleges, and family commitments with many school going siblings to take of . Most of us would go for any jobs available after Form 5 or Upper 6. Most of them started of in our career at the bottom of the company's hierarchy with minimal monthly income. Most of us contributed a large portion of our merger income towards the family's expenses as most of our parents were relatively poor. Most of us contributed about 30% to 50% of our take home pay towards the monthly expenses of the family. We had no choice then as there were many family members to feed that included our grandparents.
We were mentally prepared and resolved to work hard to earn a decent living and to learn any trade in order to prepare for any future opportunities that might arise one day. Many of us worked 6 days a week with 1 day off day. Some of them even worked 7 days a week in the service, construction and plantation sectors. The working hours were long - from 8.00 a.m. or 8.30 a.m. to late in the evenings at 6.30 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. We were willing to work for 10 to 12 hours a day with 1 hour lunch break. But it was the most memorable and meaningful experiences as we were learning a trade and at the time, earning our keeps. We were willing to make sacrifices to hope and prepare for a better and bright future.
After many years of hard work, hands-on learning, experience and fugal living, some of them went in search for better earning jobs dued to work experiences and some of them went to set up small & medium enterprises with their hard earned savings. We were a tough and hardy generation then and most of us were street smart and tough mentally to deal with difficult situations then. A few of them became wealthy dued to diligence and political and business connections. Many of them gradually acquired some measure of wealth and most of them moved up from lower income group to middle income group despite all the disadvantages imposed onto us.
In restropect, the NEP, produced a mentally and tough generation of young Chinese who were willing to work hard and to look for opportunities to make good in life despite the handicap imposed onto us. In looking back, the NEP was the blessing in disguise for it toughened a whole generation of chinese to strive even harder in this country of opportunities despite all the difficulties and road blocks in the business and social environment.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

I used to attend church during Christmas Eve when our church organised Christmas Cantatas during Christmas Eve and Watch Night Service during New Year.

CHRISTMAS EVE

The congregation would arrive early in the evening and would have pot-luck dinner together at the annexe of the church. The senior members of the church would contribute one or two dishes each to make this occasion a memorable and joyous occasion in order to celebrate Christmas Eve together in the church. Then, We would proceed to the church and attended the Christmas Eve Celebration. The MC for the celebration would commenced by leading the congregation in singing Christmas songs and Christian hymns. The MC would introduced the church choir to the congregation. The church choir would present the Christmas Cantatas on stage. The younger members of the church would present Christmas Sketches which usually tell the story of the birth of Jesus Christ at the manger and the arrival of the three wise men from the East and the offering of gifts to the babe Jesus Christ. The MC would call the church elders to close the celebration in prayers and supplication. Then the church elder would ask any church members from the floor if there are any prayer requests and supplication and thanks givings during these joyous occasion. The Christmas Cantatas ended with joyful and memorable celebration and felt assured of the saving grace the our Lord Jesus Christ.

The 9th. Hainan Association Malaysia Youth Badminton Championship on 18th - 20th December 2009 was held at Semambu Badminton Hall, Kuantan. Altogether 15 men teams and 7 ladies teams participated in this badminton tournament. It was encouraging to observe that the majority of the team members were relatively young except for the team leaders. The badminton teams were from Ulu Tiram, Kemasek, Klang, Port Dickson, Perak, Kemaman, Telok Anson, Kuching, Selangor, Malacca, Kulai and Kuantan, participated this tournament.

Kuantan Hainanese Association was the Organising Committee after 9 long years in the wilderness. I must commend Mr. Pang Ching Chay and the Organising Committee for taking this challenge to organise this badminton tournament after more than 2 months of preparation. There were initial hiccups in organising such a big national event given by the fact that we had organised this tournament 9 years ago. Eventually, all the plans were put into place and the tournament was well organised given by the fact that they had only 2 over months to plan.

We would like to congratulate the winning teams and thank all the participating teams for their support. We must also remember that there are winners and losers in any tournament but the most important thing was that it brought fond memories and friendship (kinship) in participating this tournament.

See you all in Ipoh, Perak, in 2 years time!

Suukee Boleh!

PARADIGN SHIFT OF AN OLD ASSOCIATION

As the Assistant Welfare Bureau Chief of Persatuan Hainan Kuantan, I usually received the SMSes concerning the dismiss of our elderly members. I would usually attend the funeral wake either at the decease family's house or funeral palour. Lately, I noticed that very few of the Committee Members attended the funeral wake in order to show respect to the decease and to grief together with the family members.
I would suggest that the Committee Members make an effort to attend the funeral wake as the decease's family members would be very appreciated that the representatives of the Association show concern and kindness in their time of bereavement. This is one of the public relations in order to connect them to the Association.
In the old days, the Association was very influencial amongst the hainanese community as the Committee Members then, could settled most of the problems such as helping to remit monies back to their counties, attending to their welfare and to act as the mediators to settle disputes.
We have slowly but surely lost the influence accorded to us in the old days dued to the evolution of a progressive society.
I would suggest that we must have the paradign shift in order to cater for the changing needs of the members so as to remain relevent. Needs ideas have to be created in order to cater for the needs of the members or else we may become irrelevent!

As the Assistant Welfare Bureau Chief of Persatuan Hainan Kuantan, I usually received SMSes late in the afternoon, to inform me of the dismiss of our beloved members who had passed away. I would usually attend the decease at their family's home or at the funeral palour. Recently,I noticed that the attendence amongst our Committee Members was reduced to about the usual 4 to 5 Committee Members. It is disheartening to observe that our Committee Members were lukewarm in attending the funeral wake in order to pay respect to the deceases and to grief together with their family's members in their time of their berearement

RECONNECT WITH THE GRASSROOTS

I was heartened that the local leadership organised numerous social activities in order to reconnect with the grassroots in order to be relevent with the grassroots. Recently, on 6th. December 2009, the 155 veterans who are above 60 years old, were invited to have lunch organized by JKKK Kg. Tengah / Kg. Jawa, Kuantan. They were given angpows and a small token of appreciation prior to the lunch. I am sure that the veterans were pleasantly surprise to receive angpows worth RM 50.00. Even though the amount was nothing to shout about but at least, they were appreciated by the authority for remaining loyal in their support of the ruling government.
I would like to see more activities of this nature to be organised in future for the benefit of the people. When the ruling party appreciate and thank their loyal supporters by orgainising these activities of this nature, they will continue supporting the ruling party when they perceive that the ruling party cares and appreciate them for their contributions.

MCA's GREATER UNITY PLAN

The high turnout for the 'coming home dinner' at Wisma MCA on the night before the special briefing organised on 15th. November, 2009 by MCA gave a clear indication of the good response from the MCA grassroots leaders that the majority of the leaders welcome and agreed to the Greater Unity Plan proposed by MCA Central Committee members. I am sure both the President and the Deputy President were obviously happy and smiling when they saw the thunderous applause from the grassroots leaders when they made their entry to the dining hall at Dewan San Choon. There were much hand shaking by both the top leaders as they moved from one table to another table to welcome the grassroots leaders. There was much camaraderie and goodwill amongst them by the body language and back slabbing amongst the Party comrades. At long last,they could see the light after the tunnel after one year of bitter infighting between two dynamite personalities with opposing views and strong personalities. The was unceasing applause when the President and the Deputy President went to the stage to give the brief welcoming speeches to the grassroots leaders. This shows the grassroots leaders gave their approval to the Greater Unity Plan a chance to work for the betterment of the Party.
A total of 155 out of the 191 Divisions, accounting more than 70 % or 620 grassroots leaders attended this Special Briefing organised by the Deputy President Datuk Seri Dr. Chua Soi Lek on 15th. November, 2009. The delegates consisted of the Division Chairmen, their Deputies and Secretaries as well as the Divisional Youth and Wanita Chairmen.
Datuk Seri Dr. Chua chaired the Briefing and the the meeting was opened to the floor to further deliberate the agendas of the briefing. First and foremost, is the special allocations to be given out at the beginning of next year to all the Division so that they could organise various activities for the benefit of the communities and others in order to win back support from the people after the worst electoral election on 8th. March, 2008. An allocation of RM 50,000.00 to be given to the large Division with ADUN's or MP's but without State Exco / Minister /Deputy Minister inclusive of RM 8,000.00 to the Youth Wing and RM 8,000.00 to the Wanita Wing. The medium size Division will get an allocation of RM 30,000.00 inclusive of RM 5,000.00 to Youth Wing and RM 5,000.00 to Wanita Wing. The smaller Division will get an allocation of RM 10,000. inclusive of RM 1,000.00 for Youth Wing and RM 1,000.00 for Wanita Wing.
Dr. Chua told the grassroots leaders that the fresh elections might be held six months to a year after the unity plan had been fully implemented and the Party more stable. The majority of the Party grassroots leaders gave the assurance that they would not attend the illegal EGM on the 28th. November, 2009. This is in line with the stand adopted by the Party's top leadership. The briefing also discussed direct presidential elections, CC, the State and Deputy Chairmen and the preparation of the coming General Election. A task force will be set up to further look into the details and further deliberations will be discussed at the CC on 18th. November, 2009.
Most of the grassroots leaders came out of the meeting with a positive assurance that the tragic Party infighting will become a thing in the past and they could look forward with greater assurances that the Party will come out stronger and resilient to face the electoral during the next coming General Election.