Thursday, November 27, 2008

Speech by the Honorary Member of the Rotary Club of Kuala Lumpur DiRaja, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye when launching the Charity Dinner Show by RCKL Diraja

Let me at the outset congratulate the RCKL DiRaja for initiating yet another CHARITY PROJECT in aid of the Taman Megah Home for Disabled and under privileged children working together with the Inner Wheel Club of KL, Your Friendly Entertainer Sdn Bhd and Toniq Creative Management Sdn Bhd.

As one of the past recipients of the Paul Harris Fellow Award and an Honorary Member of the RCKL DiRaja, it is indeed my privilege to associate myself with another philanthropic event so ably carried out by fellow Rotarians and Inner Wheelers.

I am pleased to note that your charity event is in line with the recent call by the Rotary International President to Rotarians to use their resources to help curb child mortality around the world.

Through this project to help the Taman Megah Home for Disabled and under-privileged children the RCKL DiRaja is responding to the RI theme for 2008-2009 which is “MAKE DREAMS REAL” for the world’s children.

The RCKL DiRaja can take pride in the fact that it had successfully embarked upon various charity and community projects over the past 80 years ranging from the establishment of the Sungai Buloh leprosarium, the first Blood Bank, formation of Malaysian Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis to the setting up of the Rotary Training Institute for Carers of the Handicapped.

RCKL DiRaja also initiated the idea of the Outward Bound School, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. It sponsored the Malaysian Zoological Society and National Zoo, Diabetes Association, donated a Mobile library, a Mobile Eye Clinic and a Mobile Blood Donor's van. The club also contributed to the Selangor & FT Spastic Children's Association Building and many other projects.

Tonight I wish to talk a little about the importance of the philanthropic spirit and a caring culture.

Civilization and progress are not to be measured only by the gross national product and technological capacity.

They are also measured by the development of the human conscience and its response when faced by the facts of human sufferings, the denial of human needs and the violation of human rights.

A caring society reflects a vision of a nation, in which the welfare of the people will revolve not around the state or the individual but around a strong and resilient family system.

A caring society, in my view, is one, which attaches great importance to the development of the human being – the human being who is imbued with compassion, understanding, a sense of justice and a generous attitude.

These are essential ingredients for creating a caring society in which all will have their rightful place. To reach this goal, it is essential for society to recognize the inherent values of each individual.

Every person should have the right to develop his/her potential to the fullest and lead a fulfilling lifestyle.

While it is essential to strive for a caring society in line with the seventh challenge of Vision 2020, it must be emphasized here that such a society must be developed and fostered not only for the purpose of our national vision but for the sake of the poor, the needy and the less fortunate who are found in every society however affluent and progressive it may be.

In the pursuit of success in their respective fields, affluent Malaysians must not lose the human touch and forget about helping the needy and the poor.

They must never become so caught up in the race for success that they lose all interest beyond their personal interests and rewards.

No amount of money can substitute this essential human touch, without which progress and prosperity become meaningless.

I need to emphasise here that the progress and maturity of a society is not measured by the GDP ringgit and technological wizardry alone, but also by its sense of responsibility, spirit of generosity and the importance it places on the dignity and well-being of its less fortunate members.

While it is gratifying to note that by and large Malaysians are generous, I feel more could be done by the affluent to help the poor and the less fortunate.

More could and should be done by more fortunate Malaysians either individually or collectively to help build a caring culture and a caring society which is vital for the attainment of united and harmonious nation in line with Vision 2020.

I have always maintained that there must be a total effort and a national commitment to help build a concerned and caring society based on mutual help and understanding.

There is a need for an enduring caring culture, and efforts to instill into each and everyone a caring attitude, a feeling for humanity, the poor and the needy and a care for his or her less fortunate human being.

The spontaneous outpouring of sympathy and offers of practical help by the public in response to several tragedies in the country involving human lives and the continuing financial support given to charitable causes are evidence of the caring attitude of Malaysians.

Our caring efforts should be intensified in the days ahead and steps must be taken to further instill in the young a sense of being caring and concerned for our needy fellow human beings.

When discussing the subject of a caring society, one cannot ignore the important role of voluntarism and philanthropy in contributing towards the realization of a caring society.

Tonight’s charity event stands as a shining example of what Rotarians can do as volunteers and philanthropists in the service of mankind.

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