ACCCIM to accept non-Chinese as affiliate member

Nanyang Siang Pau, May 24, 2016

Kuala Lumpur, May 23 – The Associated Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Malaysia (ACCCIM) is making intense preparation to recruit non-Chinese affiliate members through invitation in its effort to strengthen the organization.

There are two types of affiliate members of ACCCIM, i.e. business organization and company, the aim of accepting non-Chinese members is to increase the membership to 200,000 from the existing 100,000.

Nanyang Siang Pau learnt that ACCCIM has mooted the idea to open up its membership to non-Chinese especially Malay business group and company during its central council meeting few weeks ago.

However, it is understood that some state affiliates including Perak, Penang and Negeri Sembilan were against the idea as one of the objectives of ACCCIM is to promote contact and cooperation among its members, and also to safeguard the rights and interests of its members.

Some representatives are worried that once the membership opens up to other races, ACCCIM will lose its original purpose of inception.

Sources said although the intention of some leaders is good, many were worried that the idea of open membership will do more harm than good.

Led by its president Datuk Ter Leong Yap, ACCCIM leadership has been very prudent in dealing with the matter and keeping low profile, but some council members who disagreed with the idea had leaked out the information hoping to reverse the situation.

Under the circumstances, Ter Leong Yap has decided to call for a press conference today to relate the sequence of events.

In fact the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KLSCCCI) led by Ter Leong Yap has also announced the drawing up of the non-Chinese membership system in October last year.