Malaysia to host 2019 World Hakka Conference
SANDAKAN: Malaysia will host the 30th World Hakka Conference in 2019, said president of the Federation of Hakka Association Malaysia, Datuk Steve Chong Yoon On.
Chong said upon receiving approval from the committee of the conference, he was happy to announce that Malaysia will be the destination of this esteemed event which will see Hakka clans from all over the world coming to Malaysia.
He disclosed this during the 39th Hakka Association Malaysia convention dinner last Saturday at the Hakka hall here.
Chong said to some 1,300 members that night that he hoped the conference would showcase the colourful culture that Malaysia has to offer in order to promote cultural exchange and the tourism industry here.
He also urged members to learn more about China’s One Belt, One Road Initiative, which was aimed at creating multiple economic corridors globally.
“Understand the plan. Get to know the projects. Grab this business opportunity and use it to our benefit; gain from it,” he said, while adding that the participation of the Hakka people in the initiative would also help strengthen the relationship between the people of Hakka and the Chinese.
Chong said he would lead the federation and ensure that it would have a good relationship with other associations and organisations in and outside Malaysia.
“There are Hakka people all over the world. We will build our relationship with the people of Hakka from different parts of the world in hopes that we can unite and form a good relationship regardless of which country we are from,” he said.
Chong added that the members of the Federation of Hakka Association Malaysia should invest in and visit China for cultural exchange while also introducing the beauty of our multiracial country and its traditions and cultures to the people of China to attract more Chinese tourists to visit our country.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, who was the guest of honour of the night, was unable to attend the function but had recorded a video of his speech for the attendees.
In his video, Liow said the Hakka people in Malaysia must build a good relationship with other Chinese ethnicity associations so Chinese Malaysians could stand together peacefully, especially when requesting for welfare from the government to assist the Chinese society living in Malaysia.
He stressed that the spirit of togetherness and unity among the people would contribute to the stability of the country’s economy and strengthen the country’s multiracial community.