Dialogue session with Kuching Hokkien Association

International Times 蔡天成吁砂州华社社团．积极向政府争取权益 （古晋11日讯）砂拉越漳泉社团联合会会长拿督蔡天成呼吁，砂州华社社团应该要勇敢踏出第一步，积极向政府争取应有的权益。 他表示，纵观华人社团数十年来，几乎都没有向政府申请到固定的资产援助，以便华人社团能够获得来自政府的固定拨款，让社团拥有固定的资产。 他表示，七大乡团有3大宗旨，即促进国家繁荣、社会安宁和种族团结；促进各华社乡团的交流与和谐，反对籍贯分类；第三是向政府申请土地和拨款以便壮大华人社团的经济来源，这样才能落实更多的计划。 他表示，华社华团应该要为本身找寻一条出路，表达诉求，争取华社的权益。 他认为，惟有支持政府，而非支持政党，加强华社与政府之间的沟通，建立桥梁，华社华团才会有更广阔的出路。 他指出，华社华团支持政府是应该的，而非支持政党的立场主要是不要涉及政党政治，所以七大乡团联合会以支持政府为出发点，这样才能向政府争取更多应有的权益予华社和华团。 他也说，许多反对七大乡团联合会的人都对该联合会拥有先入为主的想法，不过，担任七大乡属的理事，不允许在其他政党担任要职，这是为了避免政党政治的问题，因为七大乡团联合会不含政治色彩。 他说，早前，七大乡团曾经在美里和诗巫与砂州首席部长进行闭门交流，交流的内容包括，以地养校、以地养会、政府资助华文独中发展、华人公务员分配、华人社区领袖委任保留固定名额予社团作出推荐权。 他透露，首席部长已经在以地养校捎来好消息，拨出2000公顷的土地予砂独中，与此同时，七大乡团联合会已于从今年7月筹备，并于8月获得社团注册局批准成立，而该联合会也向砂州政府申请200依甲的土地作为以地养会的努力，目前还在等待政府的答复。 拿督蔡天成是于今日中午在古晋福建公会会所，与古晋福建公会执委和会员进行交流时讲话。 他希望所有华社华团能够理7大乡团成立的宗旨以及出发点。 他强调，七大乡团联合会不以籍贯作为创会的立场，而认为每个华社华团都应该不分彼此，这样才能团结一致。 据悉，砂漳泉社团联合会目前有16个属会在砂州，会员有8000多人，其中在诗巫漳泉会员有2500多人。 他说，砂漳泉成立至今有20多年的历史，是一个年轻的组织，砂州漳泉人以古晋最多，他希望漳泉乡亲和其他华社华团，包括古晋福建公会促进联系，加强彼此之间的合作，为华社华团谋求更好的出路。

HARI RAYA MERDEKA VISITING 2011-Part 2

Our Federation together with the Federation of 7 Clan Associations were organising a "Hari Raya Merdeka Visiting" on 30.08.2011-31.08.2011.....

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HARI RAYA MERDEKA VISITING 2011

The Star Online

Friday September 2, 2011

Seven Clan not anti-SUPP

By NG AI FERN & VANES DEVINDRAN
sarawakstar@thestar.com.my

KUCHING: The Federation of Seven Clan Associations (FSCA) is not aimed at toppling SUPP.

It is also not meant to challenge other federations which have represented the Chinese for decades.

“This is bizarre. We definitely have no plan (to become a political party and replace SUPP),” said the initiator Chai Then Sian.

He also refuted claims that the new federation would challenge the existing United Chinese Association (UCA) in Sibu as respective clan associations are still members under the umbrella.

FSCA comprises Sibu Chiang Chuan Association, Sibu Foochow Association, Sibu Hai Nai Association, Sibu Teochew Association, Sibu Hin Hua Poo Sen Association, Sibu Kwong Wai Siew Association and Sibu Hakka Association.

The seven associations are under UCA, one of the eight divisions of the Federation of Chinese Associations of Sarawak, the umbrella for all Chinese clan, religious and welfare associations in the state.

When asked on the widespread rumour that the new federation was formed because the state leaders did not pay attention to the existing federation, Chai said: “We never said that. Do not make assumptions.”

However, he refused to comment on whether FSCA would go under the Federation of Chinese Associations of Sarawak.

“We will make the announcement (on the agenda and objective) at the right time,” he said.

It would seem that the right time is after the delegates’ meeting but Chai declined to disclose any more details such as the date of meeting, number of committee members, and how long they had been doing their planning.

He only said, “We will talk about this later.” He also kept mum on the federation’s registration and pro tem president.

Chai, who is also the president of the Federation of Chiang Chuan Associations of Sarawak and the president of Sibu Chiang Chuan Association, led a delegation of some 1,000 members to visit Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud on the second day of Hari Raya Open House at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here.

Also in the group were partyless youth adviser in the Chief Minister’s Department Larry Sng and independent Pelagus assemblyman George Lagong, who both claimed to be members of Sibu Chiang Chuan Association.

Chai further denied rumours that they would present a memorandum to Taib as reported in the Chinese press.

“We are here today merely to celebrate Raya. There is no political agenda, none of us are in politics.”

Chai also denied that the trip was sponsored by Sng as the seven associations had strong financial resources and could fund themselves.

He said Sng was present because he was the association’s advisor and member.

Sng, on the other hand, said he was present simply because he was a member of the Chiang Chuan Association, and he was celebrating Hari Raya cum National Day with state leaders.

“There is no other agenda. We do this every year, except this year there are more people.”

When asked whether the new federation could be a way to regain Chinese confidence in BN, he said: “We all want to see the Chinese coming together. As you can see today, many Chinese actually share the same views in that they want to celebrate in peace and harmony.

“I don’t want to comment on speculations. At this moment, I would like to see how to get Sarawakians to work together and if there is any role I can play to do that, I will be part of that,” he said when asked on the forming of a new party.

Meanwhile, Kuching Chiang Chuan Association chairman Michael Chia Yang Sin, who was with the group, said the visit was merely to represent his organisation.

“The Federation of Seven Clan Associations is in Sibu only. The association in Kuching is not in-volved and we know nothing about it.”

Kuching Chiang Chuan Association is one of the 16 associations under the Federation of Chiang Chuan Associations of Sarawak.

Other than a handful of leaders wearing vests bearing seven clans logo, most of the delegates wore vests with Chiang Chuan Association’s logo only.

Our Federation together with the Federation of 7 Clan Associations were organising a "HARI RAYA MERDEKA" Visiting on 30.08.2011-31.08.2011 to pay a visit to the Head of our State, TUN DATUK PATINGGI ABANG HAJI MUHAMMAD SALAHUDDIN BIN ABANG BARIENG and our honorable Chief Minister, PEHIN SRI HAJI ABDUL TAIB MAHMUD, and also the other Minister during this HARI RAYA in Kuching.........