Brief History of Chinwoo Athletic Association Selangor & Kuala Lumpur
Chinwoo was formed as a long-term project in 1930s, emphasized on intensive expansion of the association. The project included - (1) Establishing a New Building for ChinWoo School, (2) Establishing a Chinwoo Administrative Center, (3) Building a Chinwoo multi-purpose stadium, (4) To Enhance Facilities for all Activities and to Improve Effectiveness of Training, (5) Formation of Malaysia-Singapore Chin Woo Federation. Unfortunately, the Association was stopped functioning and these projects were abandoned due to the World War 2. However, shortly after the war, the newly reorganised Association came back to function and the projects mentioned above had all been successfully achieved soon after.
Chinwoo raised enough capital and invested wisely in some landed properties when they made benefit from the operation of lotteries plus long term savings. The land in which the current Chinwoo Stadium located was bought in the year 1947. The Building Fund Committee Board was formed under the leadership of Mr. Chen TaiJie. They were devoted to build a new school building and a stadium.
The Chinwoo School was formed in 1929 and the new school building for Pasar Road Chinwoo School was completed in 1950. It was officiated by the past President, the late Mr. Zhang YuChai. Moral values, healthiness, mental thinking and good discipline were emphasized in methodology besides normal languages teaching. Wushu and charity club were started then and aimed to provide Chin Woo with more capable students. The school was renamed to as Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina CHINWOO under the aids of the Government. At present, there are approximately 1800 students.
The Chinwoo Stadium is located at Jalan Hang Jebat and was constructed during the years 1950 to 1953. The initialization of project was officiated by His Royal Highness Sultan Hishammuddin Alam Shah on 31-8-1950. The opening ceremony was honourably officiated by His Excellency, Sir. Mc Donald, the then High Commissioner of Great Britain, witnessed by local leaders on the 11th December 1953. This was a glorious date, a milestone that is worthwhile written in the history of Chinwoo Association.
The great project strengthened the Association. A year later, the construction of an Olympic sized swimming pool was eventually completed and officiated by Tan Sri Lee Guang Qian. In conjunction with this great celebration, the Association organized a Singapore/Penang/K Lumpur Inter-State swimming competition, pioneering swimming sports in Chinese society in the Kuala Lumpur City. The facility of the pool was considered as the best one in the region of South East Asia at that time.
The Association was very well developed when the number of members increased to thousands, with wide variety of activities, such as Wushu, swimming, basketball, choir and music, in which the members exhibit their good attainments and performances. Furthermore, some of National Players, Representatives for International competitions were selected and trained in Chinwoo. The magnificent Chinwoo Staduim building flourished the scenery beauty of Kuala Lumpur, together with the historical Chinese Assembly Hall, K L. ¡°Chin Woo Shan¡± which means ¡°The Hill of Chinwoo¡± was the name given by local Chinese to the Chinwoo Association which is situated on the top of the hill, and there became a hot spot for big event for Chinese and other races, venues for most of the performances of world famous artists, famous orchestra, Wushu performances and commercial trade fair and displays in those days.
In the late 50s, Chin Woo sold a few properties to cope with the increasing expenses. When Chin Woo faced big difficulties in debts in 1970s, we were very sad to mention that some activities were forced to stop.
On 26th December 1972, very depressingly, Chin Woo was deregistered with the reason that the Association failed to submit Audited Operational Reports for the years 70 and 71, and the properties were taken over controlled by Public Trustees/Assignees. Dr. CHOON THIAM TAT and Zhou Rui Biao then led the loyal members and put on their efforts in getting back the Registration. After some years of hard work, the Association got back the Registration on 25th January 1977, and reclaimed the properties. Tan Sri Lee Yan Lian then led a new committee and successfully cleared the debts that accounted up to over a million ringgit.
On 26th March 1992, Chinwoo signed up an Joint-Venture agreement with a contractor to develop a land located at Jalan Kenanga, K.L and CHINWOO gets a 13-storey building ¨C the CHINWOO COURT, which houses 154 units and 160 parking place, with swimming pool and squash facilities. The project was completed in 1997, and the rental derived from this building became the main source of income of Chinwoo.
Chinwoo created the image of the ¡°Association of Wushu, Sports and Cultural¡±. Promoting various type of Cultural and Literal activities with full efforts. There is no racial, religious or political issue in the organization. Currently the activities varies from Wushu, Tai Chi, Lion Dance, Dragon Dance, Flag Dance, Choir, Boys Choir, Cultural Dance, Chinese Orchestra, GuZheng, Scuba-diving, Life-guard, Water Polo, Calligraphy, Chinese Chess, Ping-pong, Gymnasium, Swimming lessons and competitive swimming trainings, and etc. There are more than 30 instructors engaged in these activities, members are most happy to join the activities.
Chinwoo was officially renamed as Chinwoo Athletic Association Selangor and Kuala Lumpur on 28th June 1992.
The Annual General Meeting, are being held in June every year. The election of the general committee is to be carried out once in every two years, electing a President, a deputy president, 2 vice-presidents and 22 committees in the committee, the General committees would then select and appoint directors for each Section to handle its functions. All life- members or ordinary members, whose age is above 25, and has more than 2 years in the membership, qualifies to participate and to vote in the election. The business of approval of the annual reports, Audited Accounts, the appointment of external Auditors, election of Trustees once in every five years are being transacted in the General Meeting.
Currently, there are several sections including Martial Arts, Recreational Culture, Swimming, Literary Culture, Sports, House and Ground, Investigations, Welfare, and Scholarship and Study Loan Sections.
The Chinwoo Athletic Association Selangor and Kuala Lumpur is the founder member for the formation of the Federation of the World International Chin Woo Athletic Association, and established good relationship among all Chinwoo Associations in the world. Representative team is sent to The World CHINWOO Wushu & Cultural Exchange Carnivals meets once in every two-year. Domestically in our country, we are also, a founder member of the Federation of Chin Woo Athletic Associations, Malaysia, which has 18 member Associations in MALAYSIA.
Various inter club competition of Wushu, Sports, Arts and Performances were organized every two years, as a way to foster closer relationship among 18 Chin Woo Associations¡¯ members in Malaysia. |
