About Us
History of Organization
History of Organization
商会简史
Ever since Penang Island lost its free trade zone status in the beginning of 1970s, Penang was hit by severe economic crisis. With the slump of the whole industrial businesses, citizens were then forced to face increasing unemployment rates, therefore decreasing economic spending power. With the decrease of spending power, businesses owners then resort to slash the original selling price for the hope of attracting customers. With this situation all businesses were then impacted with minimize profit margin resulting in unbearable situation for all. Under this pessimistic condition, businesses owners then started to establish guilds or organizations to safeguard their entitlement and trade.
22nd March 1974, furniture elites held a meeting at Restaurant Kim Hee at Butterworth Kampung Banggali, with the intention of setting up an association for Penang furniture industry. Furniture business owners then agreed to form an unity to claim and protect the rights of the involved. “Penang, Province Wellesley and Kedah Furniture Manufacturers and Dealers Association” was born on the 28th January 1975, with the approval from Registry of Society. Soon after, on the 6th April 1975, a board of committee was elected and formed under the leadership of President Mr. Lim Huan Poay and Honorary Secretary Kwang Qi Po. Through committee and members’ unity, this association located at Butterworth Club Road was built with great success and purpose. They started and continue to work with government bodies to strengthen and maintain economic benefits for all.
The association office was relocated to 18, 1st floor, Jalan Heng Choon Tiam, Bagan Baru in 1976.
An Annual General Meeting was held on the 14th October 1984 with intention from Kedah State to form an independent furniture association. After approval “Penang, Province Wellesley and Kedah Furniture Manufacturers and Dealers Association” was changed to “Penang Furniture Manufacturers and Dealers Association. In 1988, the 7th board of committee under leadership of President Mr. Kong Sek Kong, Honorary Secretary Mr. Teoh Si Kiang co-operated with Penang Chinese Chamber and Commerce to organize a “Penang Expo” to showcase and introduce Penang furniture’s to the public. The Expo generated more than RM 100,000 which later was used for purchasing a new RM 140,000, 2 storey office shop house at Jalan Chain Ferry as association property on 25th September 1988 with the approval by Extraordinary General Meeting.
In conjunction with the association 21 st Anniversary, the 10th board committee, under the President Mr. Guan Kok Beng, Honorary Secretary Mr. Loo Khay Thye and Organization Chairman Mr. Koh Giok Kiat, the association successfully organized another fund raising dinner, funds collected with the sales of dinners tickets and sponsorship combined with the sale of the old Chain Ferry office, the association then purchased the existing RM 450,000, 3 storey shop house at Taman Kelasah, Seberang Jaya Butterworth. We were honored to invite Honorary Advisor Ybhg DatukTan Sri Dr. Sek Cheng Lum as the guest of honor to inaugurate the official launching of the office on the 30 th April 1999.