Nine
THE ROTARY STORY CONTINUES (1992/3-1998)

More than half a decade has elapsed since the launch of this book on the Petaling Jaya Rotary Club (RCPJ). Within this brief period, Malaysia, under the able leadership of our dynamic Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir, has continued to forge ahead with its economic development in the drive to become a fully industrialised nation by the year 2020. In this context, Kuala Lumpur has seen the completion of the imposing KL Tower as well as the Petronas Twin Towers which are all reputedly amongst the world's tallest buildings. In the same vein, the extension of additional residential belts such as Kelana Jaya and Bandar Utama with their own shopping malls, recreation centres and luxurious condominiums together with the massive construction of highways including the ongoing LRT which will eventually link Kuala Lumpur to Petaling Jaya has transformed the whole landscape and given more vigour to the vibrant township of Petaling Jaya.

On the political front, the situation has been a relatively stable one with only a few changes in the Cabinet line-up. Tan Sri Megat Junid took over the portfolio of Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs when Tan Sri Abu Hassan was appointed Mentri Besar of Selangor to replace Tan Sri Mohamed Taib after the latter was charged with breaching currency regulations by the Australian authorities. The women's wing of Wanita UMNO also witnessed a reshuffle when the incumbent, Dato Seri Rafidah Aziz, had to surrender the Presidency to her successor, Dato Dr Siti Zahrah Sulaiman after she lost the elections. Even then, this defeat did not cause any major shakeup of the Cabinet as had been predicted earlier on since Dato Rafidah managed to retain her portfolio of International Trade Minister, much as one would expect, to the chagrin of her rival.

In fact, more earth-shattering events arising from natural phenomena and economic crises in the Asean region were to arouse Malaysians from their general complacency in 1997. Alas, the euphoria that had been created by a booming economy in the late 80's and early 90's could not be sustained. A trail of unfortunate events that swiftly occurred one after another in 1997, such as the haze which enveloped many areas of Peninsula Malaysia and Sarawak, the sudden downslide of the stock market and the perilous depreciation of the Malaysian ringgit brought gloom to all and sundry in the country. With the subsequent economic downturn, apparent with the indefinite postponement of "mega" projects like the Bakun Dam, retrenchment and repatriation of foreign workers in the construction sector and pay-cuts in the Civil Service and the private sector, the immediate future for Malaysia looks very bleak. Economic pundits however, believe that through financial prudence and astute guidance by the government and sheer industry and thrift of its citizens, the country can still pull through this quagmire. The only snag is when?

Amidst these dramatic changes which have happened in less than a decade, how did RCPJ fare all this while? Has the Club kept in tandem with rapid national development by going fullsteam ahead with its projects as laid down in the manifesto according to the principles of the Rotary Charter of each and every President who assumes office annually or has there been intense activity followed by a slowdown in the implementation of projects parallel with the economic depression during this period? Whither has been the direction of RCPJ? What has been the Club's focal area of contribution? Has its profile been raised? Perhaps the reader can find the answers to the above questions in the following pages of this chapter which recount the Club's experiences.

Except for Dr. Dunstan Fernandez, an ophthalmologist by profession who held office in 1995/6, the other Presidents who succeeded Dr. Tarcisius Chin between 1992 and early 1998 in chronological order have held or are still holding top corporate positions and their names are akin to those of leading personalities in the Business Times: namely, Goh Seng Chuan of BP (M), Alfred Tsang of Celcure Chemicals, Liew Shou Kong of Jack Chia (M), Steven Si of Western Digital (M) and Rosman Din of DMIB Berhad respectively.

Like any other society or club, it is crucial for any chief office-bearer to lay down his goals and objectives in his agenda when he first assumes the mantle of authority; so to speak, to put the club on a proper footing. To this end, Seng Chuan did not hesitate to summon a brainstorming session of RCPJ at the Commonwealth Club two weeks before he became President in mid-1992. Those members who made an effort to turn up that Sunday morning unanimously decided that the Club would be guided by a three-year action plan in its efforts to achieve the status of premier club of District 3300 by 1995.

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