By Sivaji V Pillai
In keeping with its proud heritage as the oldest membership club in Malaysia, the Penang Club, founded in 1868, celebrated the spirit of unity and friendship with a belated Deepavali dinner gathering.
The evening brought together around 120 members and their guests, continuing a cherished club tradition that embodies the harmony and mutual respect among its diverse community. As part of this long-standing custom, Chinese members host a Chinese New Year dinner for their Indian counterparts, while Indian members return the gesture during Deepavali — a meaningful exchange that has fostered camaraderie across generations.
Trustees and senior members were also in attendance, sharing in an evening of fellowship over a sumptuous buffet featuring both Western and Asian cuisine. The warm atmosphere was further enlivened by nostalgic musical performances in English, Malay, Tamil, Hindi, and Cantonese — a true reflection of the club’s multicultural spirit.
This year’s Deepavali dinner was made possible through the generosity of members including Dato Seri Mahinder, Dato Malkit Singh, Dato Dr Kuldip Singh, Dato Rethinam Pillai, Dato Gulab Mahatam Rai, Ms Karam Jeet Kaur, Dato Mohan, Dato Dr Thandapani, Dato Dr Passkaren, Dr Jaspal Singh Gill, Ganesh Ponniah, and Harbhajan Singh.
Meanwhile, the Penang Club recently held its Annual General Meeting, where members elected a new committee to lead the club into its next chapter. The newly appointed team is headed by President Raymond Lee, with Vice President Lim Meng Tatt, and committee members Dr Dzulkafli Abdul Jalil, Dato Dr Kuldip Singh, Lim Teong Khoon, Melvin Lim, Dato Malkit Singh, Raymond Tan, and Albert Wong.
Through gatherings like this, the Penang Club continues to honour its time-honoured traditions — celebrating cultural diversity, fostering fellowship, and strengthening the bonds that have made the club a cornerstone of the community for over 150 years.
