Then & Now

The second edition of this book on the Rotary Club of Petaling Jaya in 1998 comes at a very exacting time in the annals of Malaysian history. This is due to the fact that within a year or so, the economic scenario of the country has witnessed dramatic changes from one that has been bustling and vibrant to one that has suddenly turned sluggish and inert as a result of a depreciated ringgit and the presence of a bearish stock market. Exacerbated further by natural phenomena such as the appearance of haze and the shortage of water supplies, the general outlook of Malaysia is indeed dim and gloomy. However, no matter what economic climate the nation faces, the existence of Petaling Jaya Rotary Club stands out like a beacon in a ruffled sea. Drawn together by a common bond to serve the community, the 'motley' group of PJ Rotarians, led by a different elected President each year, continues to offer its services and implement projects with a seeming 'calm' to ensure that a poor pupil can obtain free uniforms or a cancer-stricken child can derive joy from a weekend trip to a holiday resort.
Constituting the additional and final chapter of this book, "The Rotary Story Continues" to bring an up-to-date account of the activities of the Club and the role and contribution of its members in spreading goodwill and kindness not only to the PJ community specifically, but also to the Malaysian society at large. It is hoped that through the publication of this book, the dedication and resilience of these Rotary 'good men and true', (not forgetting Rotary Anns of course), we will serve as a shining example to the rest of the world and show that despite the current financial difficulties, Malaysians can still stand tall to unite and overcome adversity so that eventually, all will emerge unscathed and victorious from the economic 'doldrums'.

This story of the Rotary Club of Petaling Jaya is dedicated to the memory of the several Rotarians who passed away as members of the Club.

... . in particular to Charter Member K.S. Menon who personified Rotary knowledge and the ideals of service.

... and to P.P. Abu Mansor who personified Rotary fellowship and goodwill.