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Launched: Malaysia Dongguan Association

ipoh | January 11, 2010 | 0 Comments

Close clan relationship results in formalized international association

A luncheon ceremony to install the Inaugural Committee of the Malaysia Dongguan Association was held at Lee How Fook restaurant last month. Present at the lunch were the Director of Overseas Chinese Affairs Bureau, Dongguan, China, Ms Angela Jiang and its deputy Director Mr Guoliang Chen.

Dongguan, a prefecture-level city in central Guangdong Province, China, is often referred to as the ’Factory for the World’ as it has over 15,000 foreign factories operating there. Its connection to Ipoh goes back generations with a substantial number of residents from Ipoh having their origins from Dongguan and clan relations have been maintained for generations through the local Tong-Onn Association. This link was formalised ten years ago with the holding of the World Tong-Onn Conference at the Syuen Hotel Ipoh. Since then, to strengthen the relationship, annual ‘Lychee Trips’ were organised for Ipoh residents to visit Dongguan.

The Malaysia Dongguan Association was formally approved by ROS in April 2009 with the purpose to attract younger clan members’ involvement with the community through cultural, trade and investment opportunities. In November 2009 the association participated in the Chinese Youth Summit held at Guangdong China.

The inaugural committee comprises of 4 advisers and 9 committee members and its initial goal is commerce based. Its President Mr Kong Kok Ken in his address said initially the committee had formed three sub-groups. The first sub-group would focus on IT and publicity development and would set up its website to provide information on cultural happenings and business opportunities in Malaysia. Another sub-group will focus on exploring business opportunities between Malaysia and Dongguan while the third group will provide assistance to the needy regardless of origin and race.

During the ceremony a cheque of RM125,000 was presented to the Association by the Overseas Chinese Affair Bureau, another gesture of the strong bond between the home country and its overseas resident community.