The reconstruction and organizational expansion of the

Kuala Lumpur Engchoon Association

The Reconstruction Journey of
Kuala Lumpur Engchoon Association

Originally designed in an antique Western style, the Kuala Lumpur Engchoon Association was considered a luxurious modern building upon its completion in 1931. Shortly after the liberation of Malaya, the organization quickly resumed its normal operations. In 1946, the first post-World War II board of directors was elected, with many members from the pre-war board assuming key roles in the new administration. Despite the disruptions caused by the Japanese occupation, the association’s affairs continued smoothly due to the dedication of these directors, many of whom were founding members and remained in office out of respect for the association’s origins, hardship of founding. Notably, the Lee brothers—Lee Sit Thong, Lee Kah Yew, and Li Yuan Nian(Lee Yan Nian)—joined the board together after the war.

In 1952, Li Yuan Nian took over as president and began actively involving the Kuala Lumpur Engchoon Association in the affairs of the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, enhancing the association’s influence within Kuala Lumpur’s Chinese community. Concurrently, he initiated plans for the reconstruction of the association’s building. The first proposal for reconstruction was made in 1959, which was approved by the board but halted due to various governmental regulations. Subsequent proposals, either its architectural plans were rejected by the government or alterations in the plans, resulting the reconstruction plan has been delayed in implementation.

In 1981, the board approved an expansion plan proposed by Lim Wee Teck to develop a nine-storey building. In 1985, newly elected President Lee Sim Chye, considering urban development trends in Kuala Lumpur and future usage needs, revised the plan from nine to ten storeys. However, the municipal council rejected the reconstruction application citing the reason of preservation of old buildings in the city center.

In 1995, the board reapplied to the city government and received approval to reconstruct the building as a four-storey structure. Just as the reconstruction plan was nearing realization, during the groundbreaking ceremony, Building Committee Chairman Lee Sim Chye suggested expanding the building to seven storeys to accommodate future development needs in Kuala Lumpur’s prime location. This proposal was accepted at the annual general meeting in April 1996, and the architectural plans were approved by the municipal council in 1997. The building was completed in 1998, and on June 27, 1999, President Lee Sim Chye hosted the inauguration ceremony.

From the initial proposal in 1959 to the completion in 1999, the building transformed from a three-storey structure to a seven-storey edifice. Spanning four decades and two generations, the reconstruction of the association’s building fulfilled a challenging historical mission. Previous attempts to rebuild were hindered by various factors, both internal and external. It was under the leadership of Lee Sim Chye, leveraging his expertise and influence in the field of architecture, that many technical and legal hurdles were overcome. Without his efforts, the reconstruction of the Kuala Lumpur Engchoon Association might not have been realized in the last century.

The Kuala Lumpur Engchoon Association before reconstruction

Source: Provided by Kuala Lumpur Eng Choon Hoey Kuan

The inauguration ceremony of the rebuilt Kuala Lumpur Engchoon Association in 1999

Source: Provided by Kuala Lumpur Eng Choon Hoey Kuan

Furthermore, during the establishment of the association, Lee Sit Thong, the elder brother of former president Lee Yan Nian, donated 100 dollars. Although Lee Yan Nian had passed away many years before the reconstruction of the association, his family still honored his memory by donating 300,000 Ringgit Malaysia, making them the largest contributors to the reconstruction effort. As a result, the sixth-floor grand hall of the association was named “Hall of Tan Sri Dr. Li Yan Nian”.

From the reconstruction journey of the Kuala Lumpur Engchoon Association, it is evident that the spirit of family involvement and dedication in the operation of the association is a crucial aspect. Leadership in community organizations not only requires financial contributions but also a commitment to service. The ability of the Kuala Lumpur Engchoon Association to overcome the numerous challenges, is relied on the recognition of kinship ties among members and the familial commitment to ethnic identity within the community.

The words “Hall of Tan Sri Dr. Li Yan Nian ” was written by former Guangdong Governor Liang Longguang

Source: Provided by Kuala Lumpur Eng Choon Hoey Kuan

The magnificent exterior of the Kuala Lumpur Engchoon Association after completion of its reconstruction in 1998

Source: Provided by Centre for Malaysian Chinese Studies

Establishment of
the Youth Corps and
Women’s Group

While the Kuala Lumpur Engchoon Association achieved remarkable success in its physical infrastructure, its organizational development took significant strides with the establishment of the Youth Corps in 1979 and the Women’s Group in 2001. These additions enhanced the organization’s completeness and diversified the range and vibrancy of its activities.

The inception of the Youth Corps occurred fifty years after the association’s founding, closely linked to the prevailing social environment of the time. In the 1970s, Malaysia was recovering from the shadows of the May 13 racial conflict, and societal stability was still tenuous. Civilian youth activities faced challenges due to these circumstances. However, by the late 1970s, as the nation’s economy began to stabilize and social-economic conditions improved, various local organizations emerged to recruit young Malaysian Chinese. Examples included St. John Ambulance Brigade and the Youth Unity Movement, which offered a wide array of activities such as choirs, dance classes, Chinese orchestras, and sports like table tennis and basketball—popular among Chinese youth.

Recognizing the absence of a Youth Corps within the Kuala Lumpur Engchoon Association, the board of directors acknowledged the urgent need to cultivate future leaders and attract young descendants of Engchoon to join the association. In 1976, during a board meeting, the proposal to establish a Youth Corps was put forward.

On April 11, 1978, the Kuala Lumpur Engchoon Association convened its first preparatory meeting for the Youth Corps, chaired by Lim Wei Ho. Attendees included Zheng Jin Zhi, Lau Sze Wen, Lim Jie Wen, Lee Chun Fung, Lim Boon Keng, Tan Mei Sang, Tan Lok Han, Chai Wei Yan, Yau Pei Sheng, Lim Wen Bin, Yim Kong Shan, and Lee Yuk Fong, among others. The inaugural Youth Corps assembly took place on June 24, 1979, electing its first term of executive committee members for 1979-1980. Lim Wei Ho served as Chairman, with Lim Jie Wen as Vice-Chairman, Chai Wei Yan as Secretary, Yau Pei Sheng as Deputy Secretary, Wong Mao Tong as Treasurer, Lim Yun Nam as Auditor, Lee Siew Bee as Women’s Section Head, Tan Ah Leong as Cultural Affairs Officer, Chan Lok Han as Recreation Officer, Lim Yao Zeng as Sports Officer, Tan Song Pak as Welfare Officer, and committee members Yim Wing Chee, Chan Yi Tham, Lim Boon Keng, and Yim Kong Shan—a total of fifteen members were successfully elected, marking a historic moment for the association.

Following the establishment of the Youth Corps, numerous activities such as choir groups, drama teams, dance groups, traditional music ensembles, chess teams, and table tennis teams were launched with the support and care of the board of directors. Subsequently, several national competitions were held, including the National Clan Youth Calligraphy Competition and the National Chinese Language Speech Contest. The choir also participated in the Malaysian Hokkien Youth National Cultural Recreation Conference, organized the Clan Youth Table Tennis Competition, and hosted the Clan Youth Singing Competition, as well as the National Art Song Competition in the Chinese High School sponsored by Seagull Group. These activities elevated the role of Chinese clan associations in promoting cultural and sports activities to new levels, injecting new social functions into clan association organizations.

The 21st century marked a significant turning point for the Youth Corps of the Kuala Lumpur Engchoon Association. In November 2004, under the leadership of Chairman Wong You Bang, the entire board of directors planned the “National Engchoon Clan Leaders Training Camp” activity, fostering a trend of youth leadership participation in learning and advancing the organization towards a “learning-oriented organization”. Subsequent Chairpersons such as Lee Hua Ching and Wang Wen Hai also took on the responsibility of hosting the National Engchoon Clan Leaders Training Camp. The “National Engchoon Clan Leaders Training Camp” has now become the flagship event of the Malaysian Engchoon Federation, promoting the reconstruction of Chinese ancestral consciousness and pioneering new thinking among overseas Chinese. It balances between tradition and modernity while striving for growth and progress, simultaneously strengthening the cultural heritage of the community.

After Zheng Fu Cheng took over as president of the Kuala Lunpur Engchoon Association, under his encouragement and strong support, the Women’s Group held its first preparatory meeting at the end of year 2000. The conveners were Pan Ai Li, Lee Yue Feng, Tan Mei Ying, Wong Pei Shan, Lee Sha Zhen, and Chen Bao Zhu, among others. Subsequent meetings were held, and finally, on February 4, 2001, during the Chinese New Year period, the Women’s Group was officially established, with Pan Ai Li serving as the first chairperson.

The Women’s Group silently drove a series of activities, including social dance events, singing performances, cooking demonstrations, and bread making. In addition, it actively collaborated with the Youth Corps to host Clan Youth Table Tennis competitions and leadership training camps. They also promoted the Winter Camp of the Engchoon Association, offering Engchoon youth opportunities to return to their ancestral homeland and understand its importance.

The establishment of the Youth Corps and Women’s Group made the organization of the Kuala Lumpur Engchoon Association more robust and contributed to a more specialized division of labor in association affairs. Importantly, these two groups provided mechanisms for nurturing successors within the association. Secretaries such as Chai Wei Yan, Deputy Secretary Yau Pei Sheng, Treasurer Wong Mao Tong, and Auditor Lim Yun Nam have played significant roles not only in the Kuala Lumpur Engchoon Association but also in the Malaysian Engchoon Federation, the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Hokkien Association, the Malaysian Hokkien Association, and even the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall. It is noteworthy that Zheng Rui Kai, a member of the Youth Corps, currently serves as President of the Malaysian Engchoon Federation and President of the World Engchoon Association.