PREFACE AND
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

It would be a misnomer to call this slender volume a history of the Rotary Club of Petaling Jaya, for histories are comprehensive and balanced surveys of the past. Rather it is an impressionistic review of the Club and its development over the past thirty years in its setting of the urban community of Petaling Jaya, as seen by an outsider who has gleaned what he could from the Club's old records and from interviews with a select group of people.

The fact that this review has been written by an outsider has its pros and cons. In favour, the outsider's account will be free from the prejudices of those closely associated with the Club, although he will bring his own set of prejudices into play. Against, is the great probability that a distorted picture will emerge which overemphasizes the contributions of some while ignoring those of others. However, the writer has made as his hero the Club as a collective whole, and the mention of certain names in the narrative and the omission of others are purely coincidental.

It has been an enjoyable and even inspiring task to review the Club's progress over its first thirty years, and the writer would like to take this opportunity of thanking all those who have helped in one way or another in compiling this brief account. In particular, he would like to place on record his appreciation to all the Past Presidents (P.Ps) who sacrificed their leisure time and willingly allowed themselves to be interviewed in connection with this book.*  He would also like to record his particular thanks to P.P. S.T. Sundram, who made the arrangements for the interviews, procured materials, and served as a copious source of Rotary information and corrector of facts; and also to the incumbent President, Dr. Tarcisius Chin, who has been most supportive in all matters and in all ways. Last but not least, he wishes to thank Ms. Gulrose Karim who did all the hard work of conducting the interviews.

* Those interviewed were:
        P.D.G. Dato' James Peter Chin
        President Dr. Tarcisius Chin
        P.P. Michael Chua Chon Kow
        P.D.G. Dr. Nallathamby Ganesan
        P.P. Rupert Goldman
        P.P. David Ho Kwong Choong
        Former P.P. Dato' Kok Wee Kiat
        P.P. Kon Kee San
        Former P.P. Dr Lim Chee Shin
        P.P. Low Teong
        P.P. S.T. Sundram
        P.P. Tara Singh Gill
        P.P. Teoh Kim Theam
        P.P. Wong Nang Dick

D.J.M. Tate

... Rotary is not a luncheon club, it is not a mere social club for pleasant fellowship. It is more than a charitable organization. It is not just another service organization because its motto is not just service, but Service Above Self

Bhichai Rattakul, Governor, District 330
R.I. from his Address to delegates attending the
29th Annual District Conference held at Bangkok,
Thailand, 10-12 January 1964.