Thomas Tan
The Selangor Petaling Business and Industry Association (or Persatuan Perniagaan dan Perindustrian Petaling Selangor) celebrated its 40th anniversary by holding a grand 85-table dinner celebration recently at the school hall of SJK (C) Sungai Way in Petaling Jaya.
In a show of enthusiasm and solidarity, close to 900 people gathered that evening to enjoyed a sumptuous nine-course Chinese dinner and live entertainment by local singers.
“Tonight we are all here for a good reason which is to celebrate 40 years together with our member groups and supporters for all that we have achieved in the last four decades,” said association deputy president Tee Kee Tian.
Tee said that the association was formed after 1969 when the local Chinese businessmen saw a pressing need for an organization that would facilitate in the tackling of issues affecting them. They grouped together and formed the association with the purpose of helping each other by working collaboratively to solve problems faced in their business dealings with the local authorities.
“Our objective is to help businessmen in whatever way we can to resolve their problems such as raising issues they have with the authorities to be resolved amicably. Issues dealt with concerns the government as well as the public in one such case, when banks refused to accept writings in chinese.
“We also help exporters on the signing of Certificates of Origin (CO) by ensuring that their export certificates are processed by the authorities expeditiously.
“Like the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project which, if we go by current proposa,l did not cover the Petaling Jaya South area.
“We voiced to the government to seriously consider our request to bring development to the area by extending the MRT routes to the Petaling Jaya South area as the business community and the residents staying there also need to benefit from the project.
“We also organize various fund-raising projects such as charity golf events and charity dinners to help the needy of all races. Since 1969 till today, we have supported a lot of Chinese schools by way of giving financial aids to the poor students.”
Tee said that the association currently has a 300 over member who come from the business community in Petaling Jaya. He said the membership would soon be opened to businessmen operating beyond Petaling Jaya in areas like Subang and Serdang.
“First we will have to amend the association’s constitution at the coming AGM and after receiving approval from the Registrar of Societies (ROS).
“For our expansion plan, we will be looking for a bigger building for the association to conduct its activities as the current one, owned by the association in Section 14 is already at its full capacity but we will have to wait for the property to come down first.”
A fully colored 40th anniversary commemorative magazine was issued to mark the special occasion.
The event also saw the presentation of a cheque for RM10,000 donated to Cancerlink Foundation by the Association.
Among the VIPs present were association adviser Dato’ Lim Choon Kin and two Members of Parliament (MP) from Petaling Jaya Utara (PJU) Tony Pua and Petaling Jaya Selatan (PJS) Hee Loy Sian.
The association received a pledge of RM10,000 from senator Dato’ Donald Lim Siang Chai, deputy finance minister and one of three association advisers, who was not present due to other commitment and RM2,000 from Hee Loy Sian.
An energetic performance by two lion dance troupes from University of Malaya thrilled the guests while they enjoyed their meal and the free flow of Skol beer by Carlsberg Malaysia which sponsored 50 crates of 12 bottles in 640ml each.
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Dr Keith Tan Kay Hin
