71. THE FORMATIVE YEARS...AND NOW

It was indeed an honour to have the club's protem president, YBhg Datuk Yahaya Shafie to grace this week Wednesday's lunch meeting. It has been a while since the likeable Dato' dropped by.

Dr Zakaria, The Club President successfully convinced him to spare time for this meeting.

The stage was set for him yesterday to brief the club's old and new members on the club's history  and its humble beginning. 

According to him, back in 1977, the then Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Ghazali Jawi mooted the idea of establishing an NGO of Perak Malay intellectuals as a support group to the state government.

Informal meetings at the Greenfern Restaurant, Ipoh drew good crowd, not so much of lending support but more for the free and good food.

Back then, there was no membership list, no constitution drafted and no rules and regulations set. Dato' Sheikh Rahman, the then State Legal Advisor, Dato Seri Yang Rashdi (Allahyarham), a strong Rotarian and Tajol Rosli ( Tan Sri) were tasked with formulating policies, rules and regulations and drafting of the club's constitution. Sdr Naburi Idin (Allahyarham) came up with the club's motto and the logo which we uphold today.

According to him, not many founding members are still around in the club. Only a few like  Tan Sri Ahmad Azizuddin, Dato' Azumu haji Tak and Dato' Sheikh Rahman are still active attending Wednesday meetings and participating in club's programmmes. Many have moved up the community ladder or bigger stage.

Members present including Dato' Syed Azman, a past president of the club, took turns to post questions which were well answered by Dato' Yahaya.

The rest is history for the club today is well known across the nation as a responsible Malay NGO and service club thriving on its own funding that even Tun Mahathir complemented, worthy of emulation by others.

Dato' Yahaya's advice is to for the club's to pursue with the current community services, if possible, spread the coverage area for there are still many pockets of the community that need the club's services. 

His wish is for all the members must be committed to the club's objectives and missions and stick together as a family.

The club wished to place on record our sincerest appreciation to Dato' Yahaya Shafie, our club's Protem President for making time and effort gracing our meeting and reminding us of the club's history.

Please feel free to drop by at future meetings, Dato', after all you are very much part of the Keledang family.

On the same note, the President, the main committee and all the club's members plus the Keledang family are appealing to all members to make time to participate in all programmes and activities lined up till the end of the year. The club can certainly undertake many more projects if all members chip in and close rank.

Thank you all.