(From third left) Chew, Hiang, Chong and other Rotarians tossing yee sang during the CNY charity dinner at SMJK Hwa Lian school hall.
IT WAS an entertaining evening of good food and colourful performances as the Temerloh Rotary Club in Pahang held its Chinese New Year gathering to raise funds for upcoming activities.
Over 650 people turned up at the SMJK Hwa Lian school hall in Taman Bendera, Mentakab, to support the worthy cause.
They included sponsors from private companies, individuals and fellow Rotarians from Bukit Bintang, Ampang, Sri Petaling, Rahman Putra, Petaling Jaya, West Pahang and Indera Mahkota.
Besides being served a festive spread that included yee sang, the crowd was also entertained by a lion dance, Chinese drums, Chinese musical troupe, songs and energetic dance performances by four local artistes.
A God of Prosperity also made his rounds to liven up the joyous occasion by giving out ang pow to all diners.
Club president Chong Hec Ming, in his speech, said this year’s Chinese New Year charity dinner was being held after it was postponed for two years amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Besides celebrating the upcoming lunar new year, he said they also hoped to raise much-needed funds in order to continue carrying out more charitable programmes and community-related activities.
“I take this opportunity to wish everyone good health, peace and prosperity in the Year of the Rabbit.
“Let’s strive together and continue to assist the poor, needy and less fortunate in society,” he added.
Club vice-president Datuk Hiang A Li thanked all parties for their continuous support despite the economic challenges and financial difficulties due to the pandemic.
“We have been actively involved in assisting the people, especially residents of Temerloh and Mentakab, for more than 40 years.
“We are also grateful and thankful for all the support rendered to us, including the generous donations in cash and kind to realise our community projects,” said Hiang, who is also the SMJK Hwa Lian Mentakab’s board of governors chairman.
Among the club’s many community activities are the Clean Water Supply initiative, which benefits some 80 houses in Kampung Orang Asli Paya Sendayan in Temerloh.
Another project is the Back to School programme where uniforms, socks and school bags are donated to poor students, including those from the Orang Asli community, in the Kerdau, Lanchang, Kuala Krau, Mentakab and Temerloh districts.
At the height of the floods in December 2021 and early last year, 12 hard-hit villages in Temerloh received prompt assistance from the club, with some 800 poor households receiving new furniture and electrical appliances.
Charity dinner organising chairman and public relations director Datuk Seiko Chew Kim Pong said that despite the economic uncertainty this year, they would continue to do their best to serve the poor and needy regardless of race and religion.
“This is in line with our motto ‘Service Above Self’.
“As Rotarians, our pledge is to provide humanitarian service, strengthen goodwill and peace.
“In view of the festive season, we also hope to organise a blood donation drive to replenish the government hospital’s blood bank.
“More public awareness programmes and a recruitment drive will also be carried out to increase club membership and volunteers,” Chew added.
