THE STORY OF YMCA SIBU

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In the mid-18th century, the Industrial Revolution in England generated a huge urban migration of young people to work in cities like London where the living and recreational conditions were very poor. Young men indulged themselves in drinking and immoral activities as their pastimes.

One sunny Sunday afternoon, two young men headed for an evening church service. As they were walking on Blackfrairs Bridge over the River Thomas, George Williams suddenly challenged his friend, Ted Beaumount, ”Ted, are you willing to make a sacrifice for Christ?” Ted Beaumont consented.

That very evening, they decided on an action of courage, by convincing ten of the young men to meet in the upper room of a warehouse for Bible studies and prayers. From this meeting was born the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) which began to lead young men away from undesirable social vices to Bible reading and discussions, prayers and fellowships. Over the last 150 years, YMCA has grown into a big international youth organization with over 12,000 associations and hostels in 148 countries, having over 26millions members and helping youths to grow in Spirit, Mind and Body. YMCA came to Malaysia in 1905 with the founding of YMCA Kuala Lumpur.

During the early 70’s, Sibu was already the home of a few international voluntary service organisations like the Jaycees, Rotary and Lions Clubs. At the same time, Christian churches like the Catholic, Methodist churches and the Church of England, besides their religious activities, had contributed much towards educational development in Sibu. The Methodist and the Catholic Mission Schools had become the elite schools, educating hundreds of outstanding students who excelled in political, economic and social fields.

In 1972, several Christian leaders like the late Rev. Peter Chew Kuo Ping, Dr. Eugene Teng, Rev. Joshua Bunsu, Mr. John Ling Hau Kee, Rev. Fr. Joachim Pang, Rev. Yii Teck Soi, Mr. Chieng Hie Kwong, Mr. Kong Sung Seng, Mr. Simon Tiong King Hoon, Mr. Roger Ong, Penghulu Chang Chung Ching, Mr. Lau Hieng Ing, Mr. Michael Wong Ngee Khih, Mr. Stewart Karl, Mr. Choo Boon Huat and late Mr. Paul Anding decided to form the Sibu YMCA to promote youth activities to enhance the development of Body, Mind and spirit among the younger generation in our society. Thus Sibu YMCA was registered on 25th November, 1972.

Due to lack of funds and own premises, various activities were conducted in various mission schools’ classrooms and canteens. Mr. Simon Tiong, who had exposure to the activities in YMCA Hong Kong during his tertiary education there, took the initiative to organize various activities like cookery, cake-making classes and competitions with the assistance of his wife, Madam Wong. His old car virtually became the mobile junk store, transporting equipment needed for various YMCA activities.

On 17th January,1976, a young chartered accountant, Mr. Robert Lau Hoi Chew, was invited by Mr. Chang Chung Ching (now Penghulu) to attend the Annual General Meeting of Sibu YMCA at the office of its then President, Mr. Chieng Hie Kwong at Hock Hua Bank Building, Sibu. The meeting was attended by only 24 persons and Mr. Robert Lau was elected or rather coerced into becoming the President of YMCA Sibu. With only RM69.70 in the Association’s bank account, the new President and his new committee charted out a new development strategy to develop Sibu YMCA. An annual activity programme was planned and various project chairmen were appointed to implement the various projects throughout the year.

Our annual programme, including open-air carolling by candle-light to celebrate Christmas, and Talent Discovery Nite Concert to raise funds and to promote cultural activities, and prayer weeks became very popular. They drew huge crowds. Our stage drama shows like “The Singing Ladies” “Sound Of Music” attracted even thousands of people from outside Sibu. We even managed to invite to our open-air carolling by candle-light, Christian leaders like late Rev. Datuk Yao Ping Hua, late Datuk Ting Ming Hoi and other church leaders to deliver messages of exhortation. Until today, we still felt honoured by the presence of our Deputy Chief Minister, YB Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr. Wong Soon Kai and many reputable community, political and church leaders as our Guests of Honour. Our Christian drama, dance, singing, cookery and drama competitions were very popular during those days.
During a trip to Ipoh to attend the Malaysian YMCA Sports Festival, a few of us including Mr. Simon Tiong King Hoon, Michael Wong Ngee Khih, Peter Chai Siong Kee, Philip Ngu and Joseph Chew were impressed to see the other YMCAs owning premises of their own. Since then, we decided that it was time for us to have our own premises. Thus Board members all chipped in to rent the second floor at Lane 2, Lanang Road, Sibu as venue to be our own YMCA Centre which became too small by the time we officiated the opening ceremony.

In 1981, Mr. Lau Hieng Ing became our President and immediately planned to buy our own building. Our advisor, Rev. Dr. Teng Yu Chee successfully convinced the other bidder not to out-bid YMCA Sibu for a detached house at No. 50, Sie Poi Kieng Road not to out bid YMCA Sibu. We bought it at RM190,000.00 although we had only RM10,000.00 in our bank. This purchase was made possible through generous donations from our patrons and Sibu public.

After some minor renovations, our centre was in operation bustling with activities including interesting programmes like holiday camps, tuition classes, Art & Drawing classes and Sunday school classes.

In 1986, our centre once again, became too small and the Board members decided to build a multi-storeyed centre. At this point, we thanked our beloved YAB Chief Minister for giving us his blessings and permission to build our new centre after an appeal on our behalf by YB Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr. Wong Soon Kai, Deputy Chief Minister. This new centre which cost RM1.2 million at that time could provide space for a child-care centre, a multi-purpose hall with two badminton courts, a teaching kitchen, classroom for skill learning and tuition, an administrative office, a swimming practice pool for children, an aerobics dance room and a canteen. With the blessings of our Almighty God, the generous support of our Government and patrons, our building fund raising project was a success, starting with only RM10,000.00 in our bank account.

Our new Centre was declared open by our beloved Deputy Chief Minister, YB Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Wong Soon Kai on 6th August, 1989. It has been well patronized by the Sibu people from all walks of life, particularly the younger generation.

The concept of managing YMCA Sibu is modern, economical and effective with new ideas from our brother associations, Tainan YMCA, Hiroshima YMCA Japan, Chun Cheon YMCA Korea, Singapore Metropolitan YMCA and Orchard Road YMCA Singapore with whom we twinned in 1987, 1989, 1990 and 1995 respectively. We later progressed negotiating with Shanghai YMCA, China and for brotherhood twinning.

The success of our town centre prompted us to expand the centre and to build a youth camp in the countryside.

After three years of planning and searching, we finally bought the 12-acres fruit garden at Jalan Kasturi, 33Km Off Jalan Oya, Sibu. We consulted our international brother associations on the design and management of our youth camp and town centre expansion. These two development projects were expected to cost about RM6 million. After lengthy discussions and brain storming, we decided to build the youth camp first while waiting for the approval from the relevant authorities on our town centre extension. The decision to build the youth camp first was also due to our response to our beloved YAB Chief Minister’s vision of Sibu twin town, “Sibu Baru” in a nearby area. Our Camp Resort is surrounded by beautiful green virgin forest with Pasai Siong River meandering around it. The air is cool and clean, made more welcoming by the singing birds, the chattering of insects and the sweet fragrance of exotic flower. It’s indeed an ideal place for recreation and training seminars.

On 13th April, 1996, the first phase of the youth camp was completed and declared open by our beloved YAB Chief Minister. This camp has two distinct zones, the sports and recreation zone for the day picnickers, and the seminar and educational training zone. We even changed the name from Sibu YMCA Youth Camp to Sibu YMCA Camp Resort with the inspiration of our Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister as our own humble contribution towards the development of the tourist industry in our state. Our recreation and sports zone boosts 5 gazeboes, 1 basketball court, a multi-usage court of tennis, netball and volleyball, 10 picnic pits, a fish pond, a canteen, a 1km jogging track, open air camp area and a natural river swimming area. Our seminar training and accommodation zone boosts a fully air-conditioned multi-purpose hall in the main building with a seating capacity of 600 people and as a banquet hall for 400 people. There are hostel facilities for 240 people, 2 seminar rooms of capacity of 100 people each, a fully equipped kitchen, a dining hall for 300 people, a KTV coffee house, a prayer room, a mini store, toilets and visual facilities, and outdoor drilling field cum aerobics dance field for 1,000 people and a grandstand. A longhouse hotel of 24 rooms complete with attached bathrooms and toilets, a queen-size bed in each room, colour TV, telephone, 2 chalets of 3 bedrooms complete with a sitting room and kitchen are comparable to Ekrans Delima Resort standard in Pulau Langkawi. The whole camp site is brightly lit and enhanced with outdoor piped music and P.A. system.

Our new town centre expansion was used to cater a childcare centre, tuition classrooms, 3 badminton courts, 2 squash courts, a domestic science centre, a well-equipped gym, an indoor aerobics studio, to name a few in the olden days.

With a humble sum of RM69.70 in 1976, we have come a long way to achieving what we have today. How did we do it? The answer comes in many forms. They can be found in the blessings from our almighty God; guidance and assistance from our Government and leaders; dedication of our hard-working Board of Directors; the faith and commitment of our various committee and members as well as the tremendous generosity of the Sibu people, particularly our patrons who contributed generously towards our construction cost in the spirit what we fondly call “The Great Spirit of the Sibu People”.

In 2003, YMCA Sibu made another community-service accomplishment. A kindergarten to be set up in a new residential area was an idea mooted by late Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chiew, the President. Tadika Yakin Diri in Taman Soon Hup at Jalan Permai is a reputable preschool learning institute. It is overwhelmingly popular particularly among our bumiputera races.

We must express our heartfelt appreciation to all our past and present donors, particularly a few outstanding patrons led by our distinguished patron, Y.Bhg. Datuk Tiong Hiew King who had given us his tremendous support as the first donor and starter of our fund raising campaign for our first town centre building and also our camp resort. With the confidence gained from the exemplary support of Y.Bhg. Datuk Tiong, we went on to appeal to many other donors.

Our generous Patron, late Datuk Lau Hui Kang was famous for his willing attitude of donating with a friendly and encouraging smile.

Our distinguished Patron, late Tan Sri Datuk Ting Pek Khiing’s legendary achievement in business needs no introduction and his contribution towards charitable work was also legendary – and it was not surprising therefore, that Tan Sri transplanted a mini hotel of 30 rooms from the world famous Delima Resort Langkawi to our camp in the blink of an eye!

Another distinguished Patron, late Mr. Lau Swee Nguong, was a very low key philanthropist who lived a simple and self-restricted life but with a big and generous heart towards charitable and educational projects.

There are many other generous people whose names are too numerous to mention including Messrs Soon Hup Construction, our main contractor are also our prime driving forces in the realization of our dream.

Our competent past and present Presidents have strived with selfless sacrifices to achieve what YMCA Sibu is today. YMCA Sibu’s facilities are available to all fellow Malaysians regardless of their religion, race or social status. It is a people’s place and our charges are very reasonable as we are a non-profit making body.

YAB Chief Minister, YB Deputy Chief minister and all distinguished guests, we need your continuous blessings, guidance and supports, particularly as we are still short of millions of ringgit as we strive towards realising our YMCA Sibu vision.

But we are confident that, with this tremendous pooling of personalities, resources, selfless contribution of effort and time and most importantly, a collective sharing of this noble vision, YMCA Sibu will overcome all obstacles.
We believe YMCA Sibu will always endeavor to serve the people well with love as Christians do!