THE Kota Kinabalu chapter of Junior Chamber International (JCI), a world-wide federation of young leaders and entrepreneurs, was inaugurated in 1962 and has remained active in the state capital of Sabah since then.
It was among the first voluntary service organizations to be established in Jesselton (name of Kota Kinabalu prior to 1967). It remains relevant and alive till this day, thanks to its initiators Mr. R. D. Patel (later Mohd. Fauzi Patel), Mr. John Hii, and Mr. Michael Chen.
Its present membership strength is around 30 and Chapter President for 2009 is JC Vivien Lee. The latest event organized by JCI Kota Kinabalu is The Outstanding Young Person of Sabah (TOYPS) held at the Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort on Aug. 15, 2009.
It is a social responsibility project aimed to accord recognition to young Sabahans and Malaysian individuals based in the state, aged between 18 and 40, whose dedication to profession or life undertakings has resulted in exceptional achievements.
TOYPS is endorsed and supported by the Sabah Ministry of Youth and Sports, Dewan Perniagaan Bumiputra Sabah, Kadazandusun Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sabah United Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Universiti Sabah Malaysia (UMS).
The TOYPS event is also organized in collaboration with the Ten Outstanding Young Malaysians (TOYM) staged by JCI Malaysia since 2007. Winners of the TOYPS are nominated to participate at the national level TOYM.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah bte Hj. Abd. Rashid Shirlin is among The Outstanding Young Persons of Sabah (TOYPS) picked by JCI Kota Kinabalu at a gala dinner in Kota Kinabalu Aug. 15, 2009.
Rosnah, second term Member of Parliament for Papar, is founding chief of Umno’s Puteri movement in the state (2001-2004), before moving on to become deputy chief of the movement at the national level (2004-2008).
A lawyer by profession before her foray into politics, Rosnah was earlier this year triumphant in her bid as chief of Umno Puteri Malaysia and subsequently appointed deputy health minister.
Winning the award for the political, legal and government affairs category, she attributed support of her family members and friends for her success, adding that “nothing had been easy or glamorous”.
JC Vivien Lee, President of JCI Kota Kinabalu (2009)
Vivien Lee, current president of JCI Kota Kinabalu, explained in her welcome speech that TOYPS was organized bi-annually to recognize young Malaysians in Sabah who have dedicated themselves to the progress or welfare of the community at large.
“There are so many young Sabahans and Malaysian individuals who have had great achievements in their respective field of professions, practices and endeavours.
“Some are known but some aren’t, making them unsung heroes in their field,” she added.
Tan Kar Leong, 32, who lifted the award for the business, economic or entrepreneurial accomplishment category, started selling bicycles and related accessories in Brunei.
Later, he and his siblings expanded their retailing business and the group grew into a total of 114 household products outlets, six supermarkets in Sabah, Sarawak and Johor, with annual revenue exceeding RM80 million, employing over 2,000 workers.
Ben Leong, who turned pro in golf in 2006, won the hearts of the judges for the personal improvement and accomplishment category. His proud father, N C Leong received the award on his behalf.
He is now ranked No. 1 in Malaysia, 18th in Asia and 285th in the world. Ben’s achievement in golf has the distinction of being the first Malaysian to reach such standing.
Calvin Tang Kiat Chung, a wizard in mobile phone security technology, clinched the scientific and technological development category of the TOYPS award.
His interest in and intense focus on this field caught the attention of McAfee, a US-based anti-virus company that has now offer this young Sabahan a permanent part-time job as professional security researcher.
Winners of other categories (in brackets) are: Gary Chaw Pak Haw (Cultural & Artistic Achievement), Dr. Roland Chia Ming Shen (Humanitarian & Voluntary Services), Kevin Loo Seng Pung (Moral & Religious Leadership), and Steven Liau Chee Kok (Contribution to Children, World Peace, Nature or Human Rights).
Two young female Sabahans received a Certificate of Merit. They are: Starcie Angie Anam (Stacy), winner of Akademic Fantasia 6; and Mak Ching Hsia, who represented Sabah twice at the Sukma games and who scored straight ‘A’s in every public school examinations (UPSR, PMR & SPM).
Guest of honour for the night was Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Peter Pang En Yin, who headed the panel of judges. He was represented by his assistant minister Datuk Jahid Jahim at the awards presentation.
Past President (1987) of Lucu Jaycees Club Hung Chin-Cheng (centre) at the TOYPS 2009 dinner.
Among special guests present at the gala dinner was a delegation from the Lucu Jaycees Club, Kaosiung, Taiwan, a sister chapter of JCI Kota Kinabalu, including its past president (1987), JC Hung Chin-Cheng who has made many return visits to Kota Kinabalu in the last two decades.
JC Vivien Lee announced to Borneopedia that two of the 2007 winners from Sabah, Datuk Raymond Chan (Business, Economic or Entrepreneurial Accomplishment) and Adrian Lasimbang (Humanitarian and Voluntary Services), would be among the ten young persons representing Malaysia at the Ten Outstanding Persons of the World contest at Tunisia in November 2009.
She felt all TOYPS honorees in 2009 “had great achievements in their respective field” and expressed the hope that in the next round (2011) of TOYPS, the organizers would receive more nominees for different categories.
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Tue, Aug 18, 2009
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