I am greatly honoured, deeply humbled and completely overwhelmed by the award of the Paul Harris Fellowship of Rotary Club of Damansara West.

I commend the Rotary Club of Damansara West for living up to the famous Rotary motto of “Service Above Self”, and in particular for its “Every Child Every Year”, “Gift of Heart” and “Gift of Sight” programmes to provide breakfast to needy children and bring life and sight to low-income families by funding pediatric hole-in-heart surgeries and cataract operations.

Tonight is a special occasion, for today is 5.9.2018, which has a special affinity to 9.5.2018, the Polling Day of the 14th General Election which provided to all Malaysians a “gift of hope” that life could be better in Malaysia under a new government, that Malaysians can hope and dream again to make Malaysia a great and respected nation in the world.

I recall that when I first set out 53 years ago on the political journey, there was no thought about elections, becoming a State Assemblyman, Member of Parliament or forming governments just ideals and principles although these became necessary elements in the ensuing process.

I was propelled solely by the idealism of youth to contribute to the building of a better Malaysia, which is united, harmonious, democratic, progressive and prosperous, where there is rule of law, good governance, public integrity and economic well-being; to build a Malaysia which is admired and respected by the world as a world-class nation in various fields of human endeavour.

Or in the words of Bapa Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman, the vision of Malaysia as “a beacon of light in a difficult and distracted world”. Read the rest of this entry »