SANDAKAN: The Sabah Hotel Ballroom in Sandakan was a scene of fellowship and service recently as the Lions Club of Sandakan Selingan and its sister club, the Lions Club of Bintulu Kidurong, successfully held their Joint Installation Ceremony of the Board of Directors for the 2024/2025 fiscal year.
The prestigious event, attended by over 180 participants, underscored the strong spirit of collaboration within the Lions family. The audience comprised members from various Leo Clubs in Sandakan and Lions Clubs across District 308-A2, which encompasses Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan.
The ceremony was graced by distinguished figures in the Lions movement. Dato’ Winnie Lee, the District Governor of District 308-A2, officiated the event as the Guest of Honour. Adding to the significance of the evening was the presence of Special Guest Dato’ Yeow Wah Chin, a respected Lions Clubs International Director.
The incoming presidents for the new Lionistic year were formally installed. Santhi RG Krishnan was inaugurated for her second term as President of the Lions Club of Sandakan Selingan. Simultaneously, Angelkie Stephen Raja was installed as the new President of the Lions Club of Bintulu Kidurong.
This joint installation is a cornerstone of the two clubs’ sisterhood agreement. The clubs alternate hosting responsibilities annually. The first event was held in Bintulu last year, making this year’s ceremony the first hosted by Sandakan Selingan. Plans are already underway for the event to return to Bintulu next year.
The sister club relationship was further solidified through the announcement of collaborative service projects. The clubs jointly undertook a tree planting initiative at the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) and donated two units of air conditioners to a classroom at the Society for the Blind, ensuring a more comfortable learning environment.
The international reach of the Lions Club of Sandakan Selingan was also highlighted with the presence of representatives from another sister club, the Lions Club of Cebu Downtown in the Philippines. The delegation was led by their Club President, Viola Sy, and included Past District Governor Johnny Chan and his spouse.
In a separate announcement, President Santhi reaffirmed the club’s unwavering commitment to its signature project: providing the gift of sight. For over 20 years, the club has run an annual project to donate cataract lenses to those in need.
For the 2025/26 term, the club will continue this vital mission by donating 58 pairs of lenses. The distribution will be a collaborative effort, with 30 pairs from Sandakan Selingan, 20 pairs from the Lions Bazaar 2.0 initiative, and 8 pairs from the Lions Club of Luyang Ace. All lenses will be distributed through the Hospital Duchess of Kent (HDOK) Ophthalmology Department.
The evening concluded with a strong sense of optimism and a renewed pledge from both clubs to continue their humanitarian work, serving their communities with even greater dedication and collaboration in the year ahead. – James Leong
