Section 73: Persatuan Hakka Bahau

Up to now the total member is over 1300, including senior men, middle-age men, young men and women. The association is considered as one of the large associations on the area. The youth wing was firmed in 1981 comprising of vibrant young people who are the second generation and later the future leaders of the association.

Due to the reshuffle of the association nationwide, the name of the association was amended to Bahau Hakka Association.

The association had been established for 51 years. Having gone through 25 batch of governing boards, the present president may last for two terms.

This term (the 25th) president Datuk Leong Yiao Boon led the committee and members to form the scholarship funds and purchased a five-acre land for future developments. In order to beautify the cemetery, the president has appointed professionals to reorganized the project. The main objectives now are stabilizing the economy and leading the association towards modern approach.

The Hakka Association of Bahau met in October of 1967, and was formed by Lim Eng Qian (林英权), Chong Chin Shu (张简素), Lee Leong (李亮), Lee Shen Yong (李森容) and Chai Yee Sheng (蔡义胜).

The Committee was formed to collect funds for buying a meeting hall – A double storey shop house in Gurney Road.

It was registered as a society on 1968. In the first AGM, a committee of AJK was elected. Various activities such as Annual Meeting will be held on 31st August, Ceremonies welcoming graduates of members, Award giving presentations, dinner being specially given to members who are 70years old and above.

The third chairman Datuk Chong Wan Tatt (拿督张万达局绅) and Youth president Chong Chi Siong (庄其祥) were actively establishing a guitar band, hundred-man march band and lion dance. These activities were held fervently and was the talk of the town. But however due to the flow of new era, the above activities were terminated. After that various activities follow suit, such as helping the poor, scholarships, new year celebration and the All Soul’s Day were held. Due to the popular demand of Karaoke singing, the association also held various national Karaoke contests.

Many children of the members were awarded as scholarships, and this is the 50th batch up to now. Due to the various voluntary and zealous contributions of the members, the association has purchased a ten-acre land for the purpose of cemetery.