USSYA welcomes Semporna Sze Yi Association
SEMPORNA: The United Sabah Sze Yip Association (USSYA) has welcomed the newly formed Semporna Sze Yi Association into the family.
USSYA president Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen said the association has waited 26 years for the birth of the sixth Sze Yi association in Sabah to become an affiliated member of the umbrella body.
She said this when jointly officiating at the opening ceremony of Semporna Sze Yi Association’s premises with USSYA life honorary president Datuk Geoffrey Yee on April 10.
Susan said the USSYA initially had five affiliated members, namely Sandakan Sze Yip Association which has been established for 93 years, Sze Yi Association West Coast, Sabah (73 years), Tawau Sze Yip Association (43 years), Lahad Datu Sze Yip Association (34 years) and Sze Yi Association Keningau (26 years).
“We are elated to welcome the sixth Sze Yi association into our family 26 years later.”
Semporna Sze Yi Association, led by Kapitan Chong Kok Lik, was officially registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) on December 1, 2020.
Susan, who is also the president of Sze Yi Association West Coast, Sabah, hoped that the committee of Semporna Sze Yi Association would strive to pursue the interests of its members and contribute towards the wellbeing of the society.
In the installation ceremony of the first Semporna Sze Yi Association committee later in the evening, she urged Sze Yip folks throughout Sabah to join the Sze Yip associations to unleash the spirit of Sze Yip family in overcoming future challenges.
She said it has taken Chong two years to establish the Semporna Sze Yi Association and the latter had tirelessly sought out people of the Sze Yip clan in the district with hopes to unite them under one roof to better safeguard their welfare.
She is confident that Chong’s involvement in other associations has equipped him with the experience to bring Semporna Sze Yi Association to greater heights.
“I believe Semporna Sze Yi Association will become an influential and competent community association in the future.”
Despite being a minority clan in Sabah, Susan pointed out that Sze Yip folks were influential within the Chinese community and political circles. Some notable Sze Yip figures are prominent businessmen Datuk Geoffrey Yee, Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, Dr Roland Chia and Kota Kinabalu Member of Parliament (MP) Chan Foong Hin.
She also took the opportunity to praise Chong’s success in the business arena as the founder of Wing Tat Group.
“His contribution in community associations has been recognized by the government.
“Early this year, Chong was appointed as Kapitan to better serve the Chinese community in Semporna.”
Both Susan and Chong have donated RM10,000 each to Semporna Sze Yi Association as its activity fund while Yee contributed RM3,000.
The installation ceremony was held at Chong’s residence at Jalan Bubul, Mile 2, here. The event had been postponed from January 23 to April 10 due to the movement control order (MCO).