Perak Nam Hoi Association Celebrates 90 Years of Community, Culture and Friendship
Ninety years is more than a milestone. It is a story built across generations. For the Perak Nam Hoi Association, reaching its 90th anniversary represents nine decades of bringing people together, maintaining cultural traditions and strengthening connections among the Nam Hoi community and its friends.
This significant occasion was celebrated on 9th September 2026 with a 90th Anniversary Celebration Dinner at New She Lai Ton Restaurant in Ipoh. The evening brought together association leaders, members, cultural performers and distinguished guests from Malaysia and beyond, creating a memorable gathering centred on heritage, friendship and community spirit.
A Gathering Beyond Perak
The anniversary dinner reflected the extensive network maintained by the Perak Nam Hoi Association.
Guests came not only from different parts of Perak and Malaysia, but also from East Malaysia, Singapore, China and Macau. Representatives from affiliated associations travelled to Ipoh to join the celebration, demonstrating the longstanding relationships shared among Nanhai organisations in different regions.
Among the distinguished guests were Mr Pek Yee Bean, President of the Penang Nanhai Association and the Malaysia Nan Hoi Federation; Mr Hsu Yu-nan, President of the Perak Panyu Association; Mr Yoong Yew Quin, President of the Perak Shun Tak Association; and Mr Yu Yongjia, President of the Zhuhai Nanhai Chamber of Commerce.
The gathering also included Mr Leung Kat Dong, Executive Vice President of the Macau Nanhai Association, and Mr Choi Kuai Seng, Vice President of the Macau Nanhai Shatou Association.
From within Perak’s Chinese community, Datuk Kwan Foh Kwai, President of the Perak Chinese Assembly Hall (PCAH)-cum-Deputy President of the Perak Nam Hoi Association, attended alongside Dato’ Liew Chee Ming, President of the Perak Chinese Chamber of Commerce (PCCCI), as well as Madam Cindy Chow, President of the Perak Kwong Siew Association. Representatives from Sarawak and other parts of Malaysia were also present.
A Lifetime of Service
Among the people connected to the association’s long history is President Mr Low Wai Chee, AMP. His involvement began in 1957 when he joined the Perak Nam Hoi Association as a member. From there, he went on to serve the organisation in various capacities before eventually becoming its Chairman since the late 1990s.
His journey offers a remarkable perspective on the association’s development. Few people can say they have been part of an organisation for such a significant portion of their lives, witnessing its changing membership, activities and role within the community.
It is also a reminder that the longevity of a community association depends on people who are prepared to serve over the long term.
Lion Dance Opens the Celebration
The anniversary dinner kicked off to a lively start with a lion dance welcoming guests as they arrived. Following the banquet opening, Pertubuhan Kebudayaan dan Orkestra Cina Ipoh Perak, led by Chris Kok on the baton, presented a performance featuring youth musicians, bringing a younger generation of performers into a celebration that was very much about preserving traditions across generations.
The programme then continued with a speech by Mr Low Wai Chee, President of the Perak Nam Hoi Association and Chairman of the celebratory event.
An Evening of Cantonese Opera
Traditional Chinese performing arts have long been an important part of Nam Hoi’s cultural heritage, making them a particularly fitting feature of the 90th anniversary celebration.
The evening featured a sequence of Cantonese opera performances presented by the Perak Nam Hoi Association Music Club, opening with the Cantonese opera song Home: Nam Hoi, followed by an excerpt performance titled Secluded Rendezvous.
Masters Choy Po Ping and Law Lai Fong of the association then sang Princess Changping, leading into a special guest appearance by the renowned Cantonese opera singer and Xing-style successor Master Yip Yiu Kei, who performed two classic pieces, A Romantic Dream and Ode to the Red Lychee.
The presence of these performers and cultural practitioners added considerable depth to the evening, showing that an anniversary celebration can also serve as a platform for keeping traditional art forms visible and appreciated through different generations.
A Symbolic Lion Eye-dotting Ritual
A sacred eye-dotting ceremony was performed to awaken a new pair of lion costumes before their debut, bestowing life and spiritual energy upon the inert silk and bamboo frames. As the traditional red ink was carefully applied by invited VIPs to key features symbolising the opening of their eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and body, the dormant spirits were roused.
Instantly, the lions came alive with an energetic double-lion dance performance, leaping and bounding to the thunderous roar of gongs and drums to bring good fortune and vitality to the occasion.
The traditional ritual added a symbolic element to the evening, particularly fitting for an organisation entering its 10th decade.
Following the ceremony, members of the Perak Nam Hoi Association’s board came together for a toast with guests, who raised their glasses to mark the association’s 90-year journey and the friendships that have supported it along the way.
Souvenirs were subsequently presented to commemorate the anniversary and the special gathering.
Looking Towards the Next Chapter
Perak Nam Hoi Association is ultimately a story about people – members who have given their time, leaders who have taken on responsibilities, families who have maintained connections with their heritage and organisations that have continued to support one another across borders and generations.
The presence of guests from across Malaysia, including East Malaysia, our southern neighbour Singapore, and as far as China and Macau at the 90th anniversary dinner demonstrated just how extensive these relationships have become.
At the same time, the combination of senior community leaders, experienced cultural performers and young musicians showed that tradition does not have to remain in the past. It can continue to evolve while retaining its connection to history.
After 90 years, the Perak Nam Hoi Association has much to look back on, but the anniversary celebration was also a reminder that its journey is far from over. Congratulations to the Perak Nam Hoi Association on 90 remarkable years, and may its spirit of community and cultural heritage continue for many more generations to come.
Event: Perak Nam Hoi Association 90th Anniversary Celebration Dinner
Venue: New She Lai Ton Restaurant, Ipoh
Date: 9th Sept 2026
Time: 7pm
