PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

The significance of our sister clubs cannot be under-estimated. They play a role that enhances our club and at the same time they establish a synergy in exploring projects that can benefit our community. Cases in point are the Rotary Clubs of Hong Kong Island West and Ichihara. The Golden Child Project and the Student Exchange Programme have lent international flavor to our projects. We will continue to look into projects that are of common mutual interest.

It’s also about time we renew our ties with our sister clubs by visiting them this Rotary Year. We have not forgotten our other sister clubs: Sutherland, Chung Li, Bangalore and Makati. We were very hospitably treated when we visited the RC of Makati West. This year we will make a concerted attempt to invite our sister clubs to our anniversary on 6th January 2009 that promises to be a great event as well as for a fund-raising project for three years.

By keeping up our relationship with our sister clubs allows us to understand and be aware of what they do for their community in the other parts of the Rotary world. We remove our mindset of doing the same projects. Ideas from afar are an eye opener and we become less inward looking.

Let us then think of ways to strengthen our sister clubs and also establish sister club ties with other clubs.

We must remember our basics. We’re in this world to live a simple life. We’ve shelter, food and clothing. When people start to think of multiplying these by a thousand fold, it’ll lead to the loss of human values. Some may argue: who cares as long as we’re not caught by the law. But don’t forget we live by a moral code of conscience. We know what’s right or wrong. We know what’s appropriate or inappropriate. By doing the right thing, we’re maintaining our principles and values that we can be proud of. We’re rightfully human beings.

But let us not be depressed. I’m absolutely confident to say that most of us Malaysians are good people who are guided by principles and values. Those who throw these to the dogs are few in number. But the saddest thing is that they get away with their recalcitrant practices. They don’t repent. In fact they’re mighty proud of their ill-gotten gains. Perhaps there’s some kind of divine justice waiting for them.

I’d like to live a life guided by my values.