- Wu Vuide
KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Adeline Leong passionately recounted how her 17-year-long journey with JCI shaped her into the leader she is today.
“I owe it to JCI what I am today,” she declared, crediting the organisation for providing her with the essential skills and confidence that saw her through the “University of Hard Knocks” that was her early career.
Leong’s involvement with JCI Intan coincided with the start of her career as the Director of the Sabah State Library in the mid-1970s—a role in which she was the first and only woman.
“With the confidence and training I obtained from the Jaycees, I was able to make my stand and be noticed,” she shared during the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Ten Outstanding Young Malaysians press conference held at Likas Square here.
She emphasised how JCI’s focused on team work, time management, and the art of conducting meetings using the Robert Rules of Order was instrumental in helping her navigate a male-dominated environment.
It was this training that inspired her to launch initiatives such as Library Week to promote the library’s services.
In 1983, Leong shattered the glass ceiling by becoming the first female National President of JCI Malaysia.
Facing stiff competition from two male candidates—one each from Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak—she campaigned tirelessly, visiting numerous Local Organization Members (LOMs) to secure their support.
“I had to campaign hard and even faced humiliating setbacks, like losing my front tooth during a Telematch in Melaka,” she recounted.
Despite the odds, her relentless efforts paid off when she clinched the presidency in the first round of voting by a narrow margin.
Taking the helm of an all-male Board of Directors was no easy task.
“During my first meeting as President, some members wouldn’t even look at me,” she recalled.
Yet, Leong’s dedication to earning respect through genuine people skills eventually led to a breakthrough that saw JCI Malaysia hosting the prestigious JCI Asia Pacific Conference in Genting Highlands.
The leadership training from JCI would prove invaluable beyond her JCI career.
After 25 years at the Sabah State Library, Leong was tapped by the Chief Minister to become President of the Kota Kinabalu Municipal Council (KKMC)—a role completely outside her previous experience.
“I had the confidence to step out of my comfort zone and take on challenges that were totally new to me,” she explained.
She recalled how she transitioned from managing a library to running a municipal council of over 1,000 employees.
Her initiatives, such as the Love KK Campaign, fostered civic pride and improved local services.
Leong’s career later took her to Sandakan, where she left a lasting legacy by spearheading the annual Sandakan Festival and rejuvenating the Sandakan seafront through a joint venture that resulted in the creation of the RM25 million Sandakan Harbour Square.
Reflecting on these achievements, she noted, “The people management skills I learned from the Jaycees were the cornerstone of my success in transforming local communities.”
Her international tenure further broadened her perspective.
As JCI Vice President, Leong managed operations across the Indian subcontinent, and later, as JCI Executive Vice President, she led National Organisation Members in Africa—chairing the JCI African Conference in Mauritius.
Her global experience culminated when she served as Head of Mission in Taiwan, representing Malaysia at a diplomatic level.
“I learned to hold my own in the international arena,” she stated, proud to have promoted Malaysia’s trade, investment, tourism, and diplomatic interests despite operating under the One China Policy.
Leong expressed deep gratitude for the invaluable training and experiences provided by JCI.
“I am very grateful to JCI for building my character at a young age and for giving me the courage to take on tasks and positions of authority,” she affirmed.
