B Dato Sri Dr Sim kui Hian, Deputy Chief Minister, Minister of Local Government, housing and Public Health of Sarawak
YB Datuk Francis Harden anak Hollis, Assistant Minister of Talent Development
Yang berbahagia Datuk Tan Chong Meng, whole life hononary Chairman of Soon Heng Society
Tuan Anthony Abell, Walikota MDSA
Mr Tay Guan Huat, Setiausaha MDSA
Temenggong Kueh Aik Seng, Deputy Chairman of Soon Heng Society cum the main planner of “Biography of Datuk Tan Chong Meng”
Mr Lee Chin Guan, the writer of “Biography of Datuk Tan Chong Meng”
Follow community leaders and representatives of Chinese NGO in Simanggang
Follow leaders and member of Simanggang Soon Heng Society
Salam Sarawakku sayang and salam keluarga Malaysia
It is an honored for Simanggang Soon Heng Society this afternoon to have our newly appointed Deputy Chief Minister Dato Sri dr Sim kui Hian and the Assistant Minister of Talent Development, Datuk Francis Harden anak Hollis to be with us in Launching of “Biography of Datuk Tan Chong Meng” written by Mr Lee Chin Guan and published by Soon Heng Society.
This is the second book published by Soon Heng Society, the first one is “Kamus Iban Tionghua”, which published in 2017 and launched here by Datuk Francis Harden. Book publication is one of the mission of Soon Heng Society, as we believe it is the effective way of keeping human civilization for future generation. I propose more documentation about the past, the peoples, the story of Simanggang in various languages will be plan in near future, in order to make Simanggang known by the World.
In this publication which is planned by our Deputy Chairman Temenggong Kueh and co-edited by the society’s secretary, Mr Goh kaw Sze, we choose Datuk Tan Chong Meng as the figure to write, as the biography of Tan Chong Meng actually covered a big domain of Simanggang history for more half century. Reading Tan Chong Meng means reading about the past of Simanggang, and how his generation fought and scarified themselves for the freedom and dignity of our state. Today generation should learn from them.
Soon Heng Society always maintains good rapport with various parties since the establishment of Soon Heng Kongsi 128 years ago. Our aim is clear and straight forward, that is for the betterment of the local community. I would like to thank YB Dato Sri Dr Sim, who had allocated RM 15,000 to assist us to publish this book. We also would like to convey our thanks to YB Dato Sri Dr Sim and YB Datuk Francis who had assist us to get RM 300,000 from UNIFOR in 2020 to assist us in upgrading Ciyun Temple and get the Temple connected to the Government project of upgrading Batang Lupar Riverside. We are truly appreciate YB Datuk Francis who had visited our temple recently on 20.1.2022 and announced RM 500,000 as additional fund to make our Society’s dream to upgrade and beautifying the Temple. He also allocated RM 20,000 for us to organize Lamp festival in conjunction of Cap Goh Mei Festival 2022. We hope the good relationship of us will remind forever. Togetherness and cooperative is always the basic principles for development and progress.
Lastly, I would to thank everybody who had helping us to make this event a success. To the writer of the book, Mr Lee, we really appreciate your nice sentences and comprehensive description that make us deeper understand Tan Chong Meng, a local figure that should be read by all of us.
I also call upon everybody to come and visit our Lamp festival which will officially happen on 8-15 February 2022. Come and make Simanggang attractive to all, and don’t forget to take care of yourself, kita jaga kita.
Happy CNY. Thank you.
29.1.2022
清风拂鲁江是顺兴公会出版的第二本书，第一本是我们在2017年重版伊华词典，这2本书都与永久名誉主席拿督陈宗明相关。我们选择出版这本书，因为陈宗明值得书写与阅读。阅读陈宗明就如阅读成邦江过去半个世纪余地的历史。他与那时代同志们的斗争与牺牲值得我们学习。
顺兴公会会继续出版书籍，因为我们相信这是保存与传播文明的好方法。我们希望未来应该以各种语文出版更多与成邦江相关的书籍，让成邦江举世闻名。
我要感谢沈副首长赞助本书出版费1万5千，也感谢他与拿督法兰吉斯的协助，是我们成功取得30万的发展金，提升慈云阁。日前，拿督法兰吉斯又宣布了50万款项给我们提升慈云阁，及2万资助我们办元宵灯会。
128年以来，从公司到公会时期，顺兴公会相信良好的关系与互相合作，才能为地方带来进步 ，我们一直坚守这个原则。
感谢作者李振源妙笔生花及引人的论述，让我们更完整的了解陈宗明。
