Eight
SERVICES RENDERED
Page 2
The Rotary Club of PJ in 1991 was in many respects different from what it had been in 1961, but so was PJ itself, and so was the country. The common features of the changes that had taken place in all three entities were growth, expansion and a greater sophistication. Mahathir's Malaysia of 1991 was very different from the Tunku's Malaya of 1961, not only in terms of the transformation of the Federation of Malaya into the wider Malaysian federation, but also in terms of development, size of population and outlook. Similarly Petaling Jaya was no longer the brave, struggling fledgling urban community of thirty years ago, but a fully matured Municipality which ranked fifth in size amongst the cities and towns of the nation.* In general, trade, commerce and industry had expanded almost beyond recognition, there was a wider prosperity, and amenities had dramatically increased and improved. Life was more hectic, its pace faster, the traffic heavier, and a new generation was coming to the fore which had experienced nothing of colonialism or of the heady, early days of national independence. New slogans and new problems, unheard of and unthinkable a generation before, filled people's minds. It was no longer decolonisation and the Cold War, the Beatles and Rock and Roll, the first Sputnik and ESD that held the stage but a non-Soviet Russia, North versus South, Heavy Rock, drugs, pollution and AIDS.
*i.e., with a population, according to the Census of 1980, of well over 200,000, coming after Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Georgetown, and Johore Bahru.
Within the Club this was reflected first and foremost by the existence of two generations in its ranks - the younger and the older - where before there had only been one. Some of the older generation sighed for the good old days when they were alone and could let their hair down with complete ease in their own company; now, in the opinion of some, Rotary meetings lack their former spontaneity and zest, and social occasions, at which the generation gap is most clearly seen, have become 'a great bore'.
There are also differences of approach to the tasks they tackle and the problems they face as a Club between the members of the older and younger generations, but the consensus here is that the PJ Club at least has taken this in its stride, since the spirit of service and dedication is there, and that such differences are to be expected. At least, it is generally agreed, the Club is not split up into rival camps or cliques.
Another reflection of changed times is the loss of the intimate, family atmosphere of the club, although most P.Ps have tried their hardest to retain this aspect of fellowship. The trend amongst Rotarians has been for the holding of meetings in one another's homes to decline, so that today most, if not all, Rotary occasions, including committee meetings, are held in public places like clubs and restaurants.* With this, many of the elder members feel, a deal of the old, close, familiar atmosphere has been lost, and the strong family spirit which once characterized the Club has decayed.
*This trend has no doubt largely come about because of the pressures of modern life. However, a growing tendency for Rotarians not to turn up - as promised - to their host's place, thereby ruining all the hard work put into preparing the food and whatever by the hostess, also had a part to play.
But there has been a more positive aspect of change as well, which is reflected in the more sophisticated programmes that the Club now runs and in the glossier format of and more detailed review of the year's events contained in the Club's Annual Installation souvenir, let alone the more attractive and informative monthly newsletter.
When asked what was the thing they treasured most about Rotary, those interviewed in connection with this volume replied almost to a man: 'Fellowship'. In one particular case, the 'fellowship' has actually led to the formation of a business partnership between two PJ Rotarians, but this has not been the motivation for or the sense in which 'fellowship' has been understood. Rather it has meant the widening of one's own group of acquaintances and friends into circles which otherwise would not have been likely to occur - one deliberate consequence of the classification system. In any case, the Rotary ethic strictly proscribes Rotarians getting together in order to promote one another's business.*
*One very moving demonstration of what 'fellowship' does mean to the Rotarians of PJ was provided by the manner in which they rallied around P.P. Wong Nang Dick when he became seriously ill and had to undergo brain surgery.
Closely allied to fellowship, even forming part of it, has been the exposure to the public, mixing with the great and/or beautiful, and having the opportunity to travel to foreign climes. Most Rotarians have fond memories of journeys at home and abroad, and often recollect particular incidents which have been unique in their own lives. One P.P., for example will never forget teeing off on the golf course with the Yang diPertua of Malacca, while another will forever remember (as probably does also his wife) having his picture taken with Ms. Malaysia. Yet another P.P. remembers leaping (or being pushed) into a member's swimming pool - along with all other distinguished Rotarians present on that (social) occasion.
For most P.P.s their special recollections are connected with things which they were able to achieve during their own tenure of office. Wong Nang Dick, for instance, recalls a large Food and Fun Fair held at Taman Jaya, which was a great success despite the heavy downpour in the middle; David Ho recalls with particular pride the Club's help which enabled an eighteen-month old girl from Malacca who was a 'hole-in the heart' case to get free medical treatment in an Australian (Sydney) hospital; Teoh Kim Theam thinks of how during his tenure of office the Club was instrumental in setting up the Society for the Severely Mentally Handicapped, in consequence of a child suffering from Down's Syndrome being brought to their attention, this being achieved largely through the efforts of Lim Kok Wing, then Director of Community Service.
Page 2