It all began in 1992 during
the term of Past President (PP) Lion T. Sriskanda.
The late father of PP Ex
Lion Andy Lim Chong Soo, Lim Kian Huat had decided to donate a piece of land at
RPT Batu 8 Tambahan 1 measuring 5321 sq. ft to the club since he was the
developer of the scheme for the government.
The members were very happy
and immediately started a building fund to the raise monies for the Lion’s Home
under the chairmanship of Past President the late Lion Lau Man Wah.
Since the said land at the
time was a RPT land, it could only be given to individuals.
The club at that time
decided to nominate PP Lion Dato’ Dr. Foo Wan Kien a Lion of more than twenty
years (now forty years) as its trustee.
All the members were
anxious for the issuance of the title for the said land. The title was finally
issued in 2002 but by which time the interest and enthusiasm of the 90’s had
diminished and the HOME was hardly talked about at the meetings by the members.
New members came and all of
them hardly knew of the existence of the said land and the decision to build
the HOME. In a nutshell one can say that the spark/fire that had burnt brightly
in the 1990’s had nearly diminished.
In the year 2011, PP Lion
Ir. Foo Wan Shoon came forward and encouraged our members to continue with the
dream of our HOME. The children with special needs from the Ray of Hope needed
a Home and the Club was going to build a HOME for these children.
As such with much gusto and
now with an aim and a purpose, the members lead by PP Lion Ir. Foo Wan Shoon
went about their task of reviving the HOME. Plans were drawn and architect
appointed and the pilling work commenced.
The Club on its 46th
Anniversary even had a ground breaking ceremony which was attended by Past
International Director Hajjah Ellis Suriyati Haji Omar on 25th Feb
2012.
At that time it dawned on
the members that the title issued in 2002 was not taken from the relevant
authorities until 2012.
Upon enquiries at the Land
Office about the original title, it was no longer there. There was no record on
who took the title since it was ten long years ago.
PP Lion Dato’ Dr Foo Wan
Kien now already a Past District Governor immediately applied for a new title
and with the resources available to him obtained it on 8th April
2013.
Thereafter again the
project came to a standstill although pilling work was done on the said land.
Things did not move, until
the 50th President of the Lions Club of Ipoh Host Lion Emily Kong
Phooi Lai took office. In the meantime some members felt it was time to amend
the club’s constitution so that the said land can be transferred to the Club
and the current owner PDG Lion Dato’ Dr. Foo Wan Kien had executed all relevant
documents for the transfer.
Things began to unfold
rather quickly thereafter, PP Lion T. Sriskanda then decided to assist PP Lion
Ir. Foo Wan Shoon who came back to be
the Organising Chairperson. A kind hearted developer, Dato’ Doh Jee Ming, a
personal friend of PP Lion T. Sriskanda came forward to complete the HOME for a
sum of only RM230,000.00 of which he personally donated RM30,000.00 .
Things were moving now that
there was excitement in the air and the Lions spirit was there for its member
and everyone to see.
On 18th December
2015 after numerous visits by the club’s secretary PP Lion Peter Lip Yoke Heem
to the Registrar of Societies (ROS), the ROS allowed the amendment to the
Club’s constitution.
The Club then applied for
the state consent to transfer the said land from PDG Dato’ Dr. Foo Wan Kien to
the Lions Club of Ipoh Host on 22nd Dec 2015.
The application was not
accepted at the beginning due the some queries that the Land Office had and
after answering the queries by PP Lion T. Sriskanda it was finally approved on
1st Feb 2016 and the said land WAS FINALLY transferred to Lions Club
of Ipoh Host on 3rd Feb 2016.
The Lions Home was
completed in May, 2016 and the certificate of fitness was issued on 26th
July, 2016. The members raised the funds to pay the kind hearted developer who
agreed to build first and collect his payment later. The most generous donors’
names have been inscribed on a plaque at the HOME together with the name of the
donor of the land.
At the Club’s 51st
Installation ceremony on 13th August, 2016, the club signed a long
term Tenancy Agreement with the Ray of Hope for RM100.00 per annum.
The Ray of Hope has
obtained all approvals from the local council to date. Now they are awaiting
the final approval from the Welfare Department to commence their operations at the HOME.
Along the way, this dream
which most senior members thought would be an impossible dream has now finally
come true in the club’s 50th year of service to the community.
For this the club must
thank the many generous lions and well-wishers who have come forward to assist
the club to achieve this dream.
Indeed as the memorable song
goes, the club and its members have finally reached the ‘UNREACHABLE STAR’ with
the completion of the HOME in the name of the LIONS CLUB OF IPOH HOST.
