Eulogy - Petagas War Memorial (1999)

EULOGY BY TAN SRI BEN STEPHENS

These was done for some Australia visitors on the way to visit war memorials in Sabah in 1999 but was never used. (Labuan, Kundasang and Sandakan) 

http://www.sabahtourism.com/sabah-malaysian-borneo/en/destination/112-petagas-war-memorial/#more_picture
Petegas War Memorial

1.   World War II ended fifty four years ago and it seem like yesterday.

2.   Memories of its violence, destruction and the people who gave their lives and those who survived defending our freedom are remembered by some of us and are  among us here today.

3.   However among the young generations, it will slowly fade and thereby oblivious to the fact that our sovereignty came with sacrifice and suffering by others.

4.   Therefore memorials like this one, the Sandakan War Memorial, the Kinabalu War Memorial and others in this State have their importance in educating and reminding our present and future generation.

5.   This memorial, the Petegas Memorial Garden is dedicated to the Kinabalu Guerrillas numbering 300 young men from various communities and family members of the guerrillas and sympathisers alike who suffered and sacrificed their lives.

6.   The Guerrilla movement was organised by a brave and patriotic man by the name of  Albert Kwok in 1942. 

7.   In September 1943 information was obtained that the Japanese was intending to conscript 2000 youths of Sabah to strengthen the front-line defence.

8.   This was thwarted on the night of 9^th October 1943, by the surprise attack by the guerrillas on the Japanese Police Station and military Police  Headquarters in then known as Jesselton, now Kota Kinabalu . 

9.   The mainly machete armed men killed scores of Japanese and burned down a custom godown.

10.This severely discouraged the Japanese and the proposed conscription was abandoned.

11.However reprisal was implemented as the Japanese had reinforcement from Kuching.  The Guerrillas retreated to the hills behind Mengattal.

12.Most of the members of the Kinabalu Guerrilla surrendered within two months as the enemy had threatened and tortured members of their families, innocent women and children alike.

13.On the 21^st January 1944, 176 men of the Kinabalu Guerrilla including my father, Jules P. Stephens, and sympathisers were executed and buried in the vicinity of this memorial garden.

14.Others amounting 131 were sent to Labuan to serve various terms of imprisonment.  117 of them died due to inhumane treatment which included torture and starvation.

15.After the war a committee headed by few surving  members of  the guerilla force and their families including myself reburied those who had been killed together with the remains from Labuan in this common burial ground.

16.This Garden has been improved through the years and I commend Kota Kinabalu Municipal Council, whose President is with us today, Datuk Adeline Leong and Officers of the Council for a job well done. Thank you MPKK.

17.Each year an Official Memorial is held on the 21^st January in memory of the gallant man who fought against the Japanese Occupation forces.

18.More can be done in Sabah and this is the duty all including NGO’s such as Kota Kinabalu Junior Chamber, the Government and public alike.

19.Let us not stop here but instead, together, go forward to ensure the preservations of  our history and heritage.

 

Thank You.

2005 JCI WP Speech at the World Congress President Ball

Kevin Cullinane was the 2005 JCI President who has inspired me with his calm but passionate (two words you don't usual associate calm & passionate but he pulled it off) style when I happened to be the JCI Malaysia President. His outgoing speech at the Vienna JCI World Congress was one of those speeches that touched me and made me realise why I am so passionate about this organisation. I actually searched for the speech and kept it for future reference (the other was Pope John Paul II homily in Israel when I fell asleep and have been a guilty catholic ever since!)

SPEECH AT JCI PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION

President Elect, National Presidents, Chief Delegates, Board Colleagues, Secretary General, Congress Director, Chapter Presidents, Past, Present and Future International, National and Local Officers, Senators, Members, International Advisors, Support Team, Distinguished Guests, Friends and Family, Ladies and Gentlemen

This Irish Presidency sought to restore an executive leadership role for our elected officers and world headquarters staff. I hope I established a culture where innovation and initiative was encouraged this year.

Once in office I discovered the challenges more extensive, the choices more difficult, and the scrutiny more inevitable than I had anticipated. By accepting the criticisms and the congratulations with equal measure, I have learned from my mistakes, and built the kind of Irish Presidency I dreamt about – dedicated, decisive, determined and Member focused.

I thought it imperative from the outset that our Members knew what anyone standing for the Presidency thought about the organization he was hoping to lead. I hoped, that in addition to openly discussing our organization’s strengths as well as weaknesses, the external opportunities and threats, I could establish a forum for dealing with the key issues of Membership growth and decline, Marketing excellence and limitation, Media knowledge and ignorance.

I think I have successfully put those three M’s – Membership, Marketing, and Media firmly in your consciousness this year! But you know, you have to be careful with this Media thing – you never know when there might be a camera lurking in the background.

(CUE SHAKING THAT ASS VIDEO)

During the past year you have witnessed this Irish Presidency at work. Our needs and hopes were eloquently stated in the 2005 JCI Business Plan and the initiatives and follow through has been shared with the very fabric of our organization – our Members and our Chapters.

Perhaps historians in the future will regard this Presidency as necessarily one of those frequent periods of consolidation, a time to draw breath, recoup our natural energy and focus on what was urgent and important. I leave office in December with absolutely no regrets.

You demanded a vigorous proponent of the JCI interest, and I hope you got it. A President who was capable and competent acting as the organization’s Chief Executive Officer. A leader who rose above national or self interest to formulate strategy and gave clear direction on policy and programming, not a casual bystander of progress.

This administration has faced up to the big issues – there has been a lot done but there’s much more to do. The President’s responsibilities however cannot be delegated. This office is the single channel through which there flows the torrential pressures and needs of every national organization, every chapter, every Member.

I deliberately placed myself at the forefront of the organization and I trust you know by now that I care passionately for this organization. If I did not, the rigors and at times, excessive demands on me would not have been worth the personal and professional sacrifices that were necessary to make a difference. Leading JCI has been the greatest self actualizing experience of my young life todate. I would not have traded this opportunity for anything. It was a once in a lifetime experience.

The President is often alone, at the top, the loneliest job there is in JCI. You need a great team of supporters, confidents, friends who can keep you grounded and family who are always there for you. I have shared every step this year with a remarkable personal support team – they are known to many of you and they are all here with me again tonight. I want to thank an outstanding 2005 JCI Board of Directors and Executive Committee; our composite professional JCI Headquarters Staff and Secretary General; the 120 National organizations I have been honored to work with and their National Presidents, Officers and Chapter Presidents – the true leaders of JCI;

I want to thank JCI Austria; the Vienna Congress Organizing Committee under Wolfgang and Rainer and their respective teams for ensuring this JCI World Congress has been the success we all know it has been; I thank JCI Cobh and JCI Ireland under Presidents Darragh and James for their faith and belief in my talents; I applaud my personal team of Jeremy, Seamus, Maggie, Graham, Lynne, Suzanne, Eugene, John and Mariella; On my own behalf and yours, I thank them and applaud them for their selfless service for the benefit of JCI this year.

I can assure you it is much easier to make the speeches than it is to finally make the judgments because sometimes the advice you receive from all quarters is divided. If you take the wrong course, and on occasion I have, the President bears the burden of responsibility quite rightly. However, the advice I have received throughout this year has always had the best interests of JCI at heart. To all those who have advised me throughout the year, including you Colvin, I trust you found a listening ear, an open heart and a wise and considered mind.

As Winston Churchill said on taking office many years ago: if we open a quarrel between the present and the past, we shall be in danger of losing the future.

Tonight our concern must be with that future. For the world is changing. The old era is ending and the old ways will not do.

It is time for a new generation of young leaders and entrepreneurs to create better leaders, to create better societies!
But I believe the times demand new invention, innovation, imagination, decision. I am asking each of you to be pioneers on that New Frontier.

My call is to the young and the young at heart, regardless of age to be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be dismayed. Continue to be living examples of the organization’s philosophy and beliefs.

For courage--not complacency--is our need today--leadership--not showmanship. And the only valid test of leadership is the ability to lead, and lead vigorously.

Are we up to the task--are we equal to the challenge? Are we willing to match the sacrifice of the present for the future or must we sacrifice our future in order to enjoy the present?

In 2005, all of JCI waited upon this Irish styled leadership. A whole world looked to see what we would do. We did not fail their trust; we did not fail to try.

It has been a long road from that first autumn day in Fukuoka to this crowded congress hall to night. Now begins another long journey, taking me back into the town I love so well and back to my family and friends.

JCI Members you gave me your help, your hand, your voice, and your support. But above all else you extended the hand of friendship.

In the words of the traditional Irish blessing:

May the road rise to meet to you,

May the wind be at your back

May the sun shine warm upon your face

May the rain fall softly on your fields

And until we meet again

May you keep safe in the gentle loving arms of God.

My final message as a National President on 31st December 2005 which Francis Wong noted was my longest e-mail ever!!

My Dear fellow Board members, Lom Presidents, appointed directors and fellow Jaycees - greetings and well wishes from your National President!

Wow, one year has gone by with a blink of an eye. I have traveled to 15 installations, the Sabah / Sarawak / Peninsular Area Convention, the National Convention, ASPAC, World Congress, National and Lom projects and visits. I estimated it took 104 Jaycee working days (don’t inform my shareholders!) and at least 66 flights (more than one flight a week) that was as near as in KK and as far as Vienna, Austria.

In this journey the 2005 team and I have brought you Mission Glad, a message of Growth, Learning, being Active and Developing our Resources. So what have we achieved?

GROWTH

Our target was 10% growth, we achieved 7%. We recruited more than 200 new members in 2005, giving them an opportunity to enjoy all that JCI has to offer. A Membership Kit has been introduced to all members and delivered to Loms at the 2005 JCI Malaysia National Convention. This allows members to establish their expectation of themselves and the organization. Our target is 2000 members in 7 years (2012) and 2500 in 10 years. I truly believe we can achieve ahead of schedule if we organize ourselves better because we have an excellent product in JCI. Below is a table showing our growth since 1994 (data from JCI);

Year	2006	2005	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000
Membership	1130	1061	1122	1395	1377	1397	1393
Loms	35	34	32	40	38	38	38

Year	1999	1998	1997	1996	1995	1994
Membership	1357	1495	1559	1443	1361	1294
Loms	38	38	37	36	35	35

We have an estimated population of 5 million between the ages of 18 to 40. We therefore have 0.02% of this population as our members, and doubling our membership will give us 0.04%. Therefore the potential for growth is tremendous.

Currently we have new provisional Loms in Mines (KL), Johor Bharu Entrepreneur and Batu Kawan (Penang) which are able to be affiliated in 2006. The re-introduction of Seremban and Kudat are also in the pipe line. I truly believe we can break the barrier of 1300 members and 40 Loms in 2006.

LEARN

I believe the work done by NTD JCI Sen. Ooi Hooi Kiang has created a foundation and structure that JCI Malaysia members will benefit many years to come.

JCI training programmes – JCI Prime (hosted by JCI Taiping and JCI Tanjung Aru. Thank You!!) and JCI Achieve has been introduced. Numerous training at Area and National Convention, the Area Sabah Training Marathon and Loms participated in training programmes.

This year the introduction of the JCIM Training Commission whose vision is to be resource centre in establishing professional standards, assuring top-quality training and providing effective services to develop and support the JCIM leaders and trainers. The commission will plan the short, medium and long term strategies and allow the NTD to implement for the current years programme.

I believe we will have one of the best training structure for our members in JCI in not the too distant future.

ACTIVATE

Participation of members overall is satisfactory. Attendance at Area Convention are as follows; Peninsular – 90, Sarawak – 79 and Sabah – 65.

The National Convention had approximately 250 members attended and about 20-25% were a new/first timer which is excellent. 65 members attended JCI ASPAC in Macau and 4 attended JCI World Congress in Vienna.

My observation is that chapters that have senior, current and new members that work well together seem to be successful in running projects, recruitment and training. This mixture is also excellent when attending convention, conferences and congresses.

DEVELOP RESOURCES

The collection of statistics by National Growth and Extension Director and the NVP’s has given us valuable data to analyze JCIM current membership standing. This allows us to plan for the future and advice chapters.

The secretariat has been renovated. And for the first time in more than a decade we had our NBOD meetings there (twice this year). We now have a JCIM HQ that can been a wonderful resource for service to members.

Majlis Belia Malaysia has granted JCIM full affiliation. This will give further opportunities for members to get involve and promotion of JCIM in MBM. Special thanks to the MBM Director Ralph.

We also have become a community partner to the Cradle Investment Programme with Malaysia Venture Capital Management Bhd (MAVCAP).

I happy to announce that ROS has approved all our application for changes in the Constitution and By-laws including our corporate identity.

CONCLUSION

It has been a great honor being the National President of JCIM for one year. The position is a lonely one but was alleviated by all of you.

This year’s success is due to everyone's contribution – NBOD, appointed Directors & LOM Presidents and its members.

I especially would like to thank;

· The NBOD, Alice, “Cool” Alex, “Any Other Business” George, Megane, Joe, Daniel, Kho, Sabrina, Francis, “Datuk” OTB, William, Joseph, Veronica, NP 2006 Ah Tat.

· NPSA’s – Kenny and Joe.

· The appointed directors – Hooi Kiang, Li Yuen, Cynthia, Bon, Suzzane, Angeline, Shirlenne, and Ralph.

· The National OC’s – Norbert (KK), Steven (Tanjung Aru), Kenny (Taiping), KL Mandarin, Miri, Penang, Tanjung Bungah, E-Metro, Penampang and Tawau.

· All Lom Presidents

· Past National President & Senate Chairman “the Professor”

· KKJC Past Presidents and members

· Members all over Malaysia.

(if I have forgotten anyone in this list, please forgive me)

Winston Churchill once said on taking office many years ago: “if we open a quarrel between the present and the past, we shall be in danger of losing the future.” Our duty now is to give our full support to 2006 team to ensure the continued success of JCIM.

My hope is that going through the year we have learnt our strength and weaknesses and have improve because of it.

Thank you for making this one of the most memorable part of my life and God Bless. May you have a meaningful and Joyous Christmas and New Year.

CHEERS!!!

2004 Caucus Speech for JCI Malaysia

CAUCUS SPEECH

JOE’S INTRO

Mr. Chairman, Senators and fellow Jaycees

I am blessed with the double opportunity to represent KKJC as the Chief Delegate and to introduce KKJC’s candidate for National President this evening.

In a world driven by ambition and wealth I am glad to introduce to all of you someone who has moved on from being a mere JC friend to personal friend (quote IC pg 50)

In Jaycees we have opportunities – to Grow, learn, be active and develop, opportunity cost – at times we have to sacrifice our business and family time to get things done in Jaycees. Opportunist – people who come in with sole intention of making use of this organization for their own personal glorification.

If you ask anyone from Area Sabah, they will gladly tell you that our candidate came in to serve at a time when Sabah was at its lowest level and nobody wanted to take up the challenge. It is obvious from the presence of chapters from Sabah he has done justice to his position.

Area Sabah in General and KKJC in particular is proud to present JC Donald Stephens for Candidate for National President 2005.

DON’S SPEECH

Fellow Jaycees,

Caucus has always been an exciting part of any National Convention. Personally I have always enjoyed it … from the opposite end of this lectern.

Few years ago if any one ask me if I would be a candidate for National President, I would definitely have said NO.

This is exactly what this organization does to a challenged person like me. My experience came in 1996 when I joined KKJC and was quickly absorbed in the COC. My position was the Stage Manager, and its main glorified job specification was to place the microphone stand on stage and take it off.

Since my first job as Stage Manager until today about eight years later the people who have known me has seen my development …including my weight and hair loss.

It has provided me an opportunity to Grow, Learn, Activate and Develop myself. This is my Theme…my mission…is GLAD.

G for Growth

L for Learn

A to Activate

And D for developing our resources

G - In Growth we plan to prepare JCI-Malaysia to grow at 10% net per year. Allowing us to reach 2000 members in 7 years and 2500 members in 10 years.

L – Learn – to improve the NOM and LOM training programs by upgrading materials, approach and methodology relevant to the current members’ needs which include Local and National Context.

A – Activate – To ensure new, inactive and senior members to participate in LOM and NOM activities and project.

D – Develop resources – Resources like our values have to be developed and understood. The secretariat has to be upgraded to ensure better services to members. We have to manage our financial resources by implementing a complimentary entity. We have to synergise and build strong relationships in smart partnership with organization such as Senate Malaysia, MBM, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Women and Family Development, SUHAKAM and Toastmasters.

Our organization allows individuals to work together to give better results. SO I am glad to announce my running mate, the calm and reliable candidate for National Sec. General – JC Alex Ang Ko Han of Junior Chamber Kuching. I believe we will compliment our strengths and give our best for the organization.

My mission is GLAD , I want everyone to be glad to be in this great organization.

Ladies and Gentlemen: let us

Grow together

Learn together

Be Active together

Develop our resources together

For the benefit of ourselves and the organization.

Thank you and God Bless and peace be with you.