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In
1990, he set up a company providing logistic services. Since then Sinar
Mekar Sdn Bhd has been growing and Augustine is now the Managing Director
of the company. Recently, SM Inland Port Sdn Bhd, a company under the
Sinar Mekar group (http://www.sinarmekar.com), was appointed by Kuching
Port Authority as the operator for the Tebedu-Entikong inland port.
Married
to Constance Poh Lay Leng who comes from Singapore, they both have a
six-year old son named Alexander Wong.
Incoming
President Augustine Wong has outlined a number of community related
projects that will be undertaken by the club during his terms of office
including a project to help
in the rebuilding and reconstruction of Aceh. Such meaningful project will
be in lined with the Rotary International Theme for 2005-2006, ‘Service
Above Self’.
In
his installation address, President Augustine said, ‘As the Incoming
President, I will continue the club’s tradition in carrying out
humanitarian services, promoting high ethnical standard and strive for
international understanding and peace.’
Rotary
International President, Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar has chosen the theme
‘Service Above Self’ for year 2005-2006, which was also Rotary’s
first theme hundred years ago. As we begin to write the first chapter of
Rotary’s second hundred years, we are urged by him to reflect on the
theme and to keep our Rotary lives simple – an approach that requires
maintaining continuity from previous years and setting a straightforward
path for the future and to focus on areas in which we have demonstrated
significant strength in the past and represent the most basis human needs.
The challenge thrown by our Rotary International President to Rotarians is
to look into the area of literacy and education, from one to one tutoring
efforts to large-scale literacy programmes.
It is said that, despite the number of projects being taken up by
communities, clubs and societies, there are still countless adults who
could not read or write a simple sentence or are functionally illiterate,
that is they are unable to use reading, writing and calculation to engage
in most work and normal daily activities.
The Rotarians are encouraged to use their considerable experience
and commitment to look into this problem.
The
second area of emphasis is on water management.
That is to say, despite the implementation of various water
projects by various clubs and organisations, there are still a large
number of people who still have no access to a safe water supply and lack
adequate sanitation, resulting in needless death from preventable water
related diseases.
Augustine
said, ‘It is thus a challenge to me having been installed as the 20th
President of the Rotary Club of Kuching Central, a club known for its
members' co-operation and commitment in various projects in our community,
to take up the challenge as laid down by our Rotary International
President. Although as I have
said, the standard set forth for me by my predecessors is indeed high
however, with the qualities and standard of my Incoming Board of
Directors, I sincerely believe I can achieve our vision and goal under the
inspiring theme of “Service Above Self.”
President
Augustine also thanked the many Rotary friends and supporters in the
corporate sector, as well as individuals, who are ever willing to lend a
hand to the club’s projects, either by monetary contributions or in
kind.
Some
of these companies and individuals have placed advertisements or
congratulatory messages in the club’s Installation Souvenir Magazine,
contributing to the club’s fund and acting as partners-in-service.
We thank them for their generosity and support.
In
his closing remarks, President Augustine said, ‘With that, thank you all
very much for the opportunity you have given Constance and myself to work
hand-in-hand with you in our Rotary projects and service activities.
We both look forward in making the Rotary Year 2005-2006 as one of
the most fulfilling, enjoyable and productive moments in our lives.’
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