In the Beginning ..
The idea of forming a Baba Nyonya Association in the Klang Valley was initiated when two strangers in the form of Madam Doris Chee (deceased) and Madam Patricia Teh Siew Cheng met at the launch of the late Datin Endon Mahmood’s ‘The Nyonya Kebaya – a showcase’ Exhibition and Symposium in the National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur on 23rd February, 2003
The two were later joined by Puan Norminshah Sabirin, who was a friend of Madam Doris’s perennially supportive husband, Mr. Lee Cheng Yan (deceased). Together they had all frequently attended the activities organized under the aegis of the ‘The Nyonya Kebaya – a showcase’ and forged a team with four other friends namely Mr. Chua Leng Kee, Mr. Ee Hock Chuan, Mr. Chua Eng Chye and Mrs. Betty Chua. Today, the eight culture enthusiasts mentioned above are regarded as being ‘The Initiators’ of the present Association.
The two were later joined by Puan Norminshah Sabirin, who was a friend of Madam Doris’s perennially supportive husband, Mr. Lee Cheng Yan (deceased). Together they had all frequently attended the activities organized under the aegis of the ‘The Nyonya Kebaya – a showcase’ and forged a team with four other friends namely Mr. Chua Leng Kee, Mr. Ee Hock Chuan, Mr. Chua Eng Chye and Mrs. Betty Chua. Today, the eight culture enthusiasts mentioned above are regarded as being ‘The Initiators’ of the present Association.
The Initiators
The Persatuan Peranakan Baba Nyonya Kuala Lumpur was initated by 8 Babas and Nyonyas.
Four informal meetings were held in the Muzium Negara between 2003 and 2005 with the full support of its curator, Madam Janet Tee. Realizing that they lacked critical knowledge in some areas, they crafted a plan to enlist more members during ‘The World of Peranakan’ Symposium and Exhibition to be held at the Muzium Negara on 3rd February, 2005.
Madam Doris Chee, Madam Patricia Teh and Puan Norminshah were the formidable three at the fore-front who galvanized the participants of the symposium and encouraged them to meet after the event. This led to the formation of a Primary Planning Team during the first social gathering which was held at The Verandah café in the Royal Selangor Club on 25th February 2005. The team’s immediate tasks were to draft the Constitution and to call for a general meeting.
The Inaugural AGM was convened on Saturday 1st October 2005. Dr. Lee Su Kim was appointed by the Pro Tem members to chair the Pro Tem Committee, and when PPBNKLS was registered in 2006, she was duly elected as the association's Founding (First) President. Besides the Pro Tem President, the following were elected as Pro Tem Committee, Auditors and Trustees namely Datuk Yeo Hock Siew, Madam Lim Yulin, Mr. Cedric Tan, Madam Helen Chen, Madam Patricia Teh, Mr. Teh Beng Boon, Mr. Chua Leng Kee, Mr. Ee Hock Chuan, Mr. Lee Cheng Yan, Madam Doris Chee, Madam Quay Leng Neo, Mr. Tay Hoon Lim, Datin Anne Yuen, Madam Stephanie Chong. Together with Ms. Nancy Peng, Madam Marian Tan, Mr. David Low, Ms. Dinah Tan, Madam Shereen Wee Abdullah, Madam Jenny Song, Ms. Emily Chua and Dr. Pepper Lim, the 23 names mentioned in this paragraph belong to those who attended the Inaugural General Meeting. Thus, they have been accorded the status of ‘Founder Members of the Association’.
The team that worked very hard to draft the Constitution was headed by Mr. Chua Leng Kee and comprised Datuk Yeo Hock Siew, Mr. Vincent Tan, Madam Patricia Teh and Madam Helen Chen. Later, Dr. Lee Su Kim, Mr. Cedric Tan and Mr. Teh Beng Boon were co-opted into the team.
Soon after, the nascent Association submitted its application and draft Constitution to the Registrar of Societies, Malaysia on 19th June, 2006. There was some apprehension when minor missteps necessitated our having to re-submit the application on 21st May, 2008. Everyone was elated and relieved when the Certificate of Registration was issued on 28th July 2008.
Madam Doris Chee, Madam Patricia Teh and Puan Norminshah were the formidable three at the fore-front who galvanized the participants of the symposium and encouraged them to meet after the event. This led to the formation of a Primary Planning Team during the first social gathering which was held at The Verandah café in the Royal Selangor Club on 25th February 2005. The team’s immediate tasks were to draft the Constitution and to call for a general meeting.
The Inaugural AGM was convened on Saturday 1st October 2005. Dr. Lee Su Kim was appointed by the Pro Tem members to chair the Pro Tem Committee, and when PPBNKLS was registered in 2006, she was duly elected as the association's Founding (First) President. Besides the Pro Tem President, the following were elected as Pro Tem Committee, Auditors and Trustees namely Datuk Yeo Hock Siew, Madam Lim Yulin, Mr. Cedric Tan, Madam Helen Chen, Madam Patricia Teh, Mr. Teh Beng Boon, Mr. Chua Leng Kee, Mr. Ee Hock Chuan, Mr. Lee Cheng Yan, Madam Doris Chee, Madam Quay Leng Neo, Mr. Tay Hoon Lim, Datin Anne Yuen, Madam Stephanie Chong. Together with Ms. Nancy Peng, Madam Marian Tan, Mr. David Low, Ms. Dinah Tan, Madam Shereen Wee Abdullah, Madam Jenny Song, Ms. Emily Chua and Dr. Pepper Lim, the 23 names mentioned in this paragraph belong to those who attended the Inaugural General Meeting. Thus, they have been accorded the status of ‘Founder Members of the Association’.
The team that worked very hard to draft the Constitution was headed by Mr. Chua Leng Kee and comprised Datuk Yeo Hock Siew, Mr. Vincent Tan, Madam Patricia Teh and Madam Helen Chen. Later, Dr. Lee Su Kim, Mr. Cedric Tan and Mr. Teh Beng Boon were co-opted into the team.
Soon after, the nascent Association submitted its application and draft Constitution to the Registrar of Societies, Malaysia on 19th June, 2006. There was some apprehension when minor missteps necessitated our having to re-submit the application on 21st May, 2008. Everyone was elated and relieved when the Certificate of Registration was issued on 28th July 2008.
On 7th September, 2014, Mr. Cedric Tan took over the helm of the Association. Both he and Datuk Yeo Hock Siew have been Committee Members from the Association’s inception until the publication of this book. Besides the Pro Tem Committee Members mentioned earlier, the following members have served, or are still serving, as Committee Members and/or as Auditors for the Association over the last decade:
Mr. Thein Chin Fatt, Mr. Tay Beng Wah, Dr. Pepper Lim, Madam Jenny Kho, Mr, Peter Chua, Ms. Nancy Peng, Mr. Wong Mun Yee, Ms. Jacqueline Lim, Mr. August Ang, Mr. Chuah Poh Teong, Mr. Frank Low, Ms. Emily Chua, Madam Kessy Theseira, Madam Vivienne Lee, Mr. Albert Tan, Mr. Michael Soon, Mr. Lim Hock Thiam, Madam Tan Mei Ling, Mr. Ivan Chua, Ms. Adeline Loh, Mr. Jerry Ong (deceased) and Ms. Doreen Wong.
Mr. Thein Chin Fatt, Mr. Tay Beng Wah, Dr. Pepper Lim, Madam Jenny Kho, Mr, Peter Chua, Ms. Nancy Peng, Mr. Wong Mun Yee, Ms. Jacqueline Lim, Mr. August Ang, Mr. Chuah Poh Teong, Mr. Frank Low, Ms. Emily Chua, Madam Kessy Theseira, Madam Vivienne Lee, Mr. Albert Tan, Mr. Michael Soon, Mr. Lim Hock Thiam, Madam Tan Mei Ling, Mr. Ivan Chua, Ms. Adeline Loh, Mr. Jerry Ong (deceased) and Ms. Doreen Wong.
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