9th June 1998 – Syeun Hotel, Ipoh
Some evenings shimmer brighter than others. This was one of them.
At the Syeun Hotel, the Lions Club of Kinta (Ipoh) hosted a tea party unlike any other—a celebration of compassion, dignity, and royal benevolence. The room was filled with warmth and anticipation, not just from the underprivileged guests we honored, but from the presence of royalty itself.
That day, I was deeply humbled to present the Melvin Jones Fellowship (MJF)—the highest honor in Lionism—to Her Royal Highness, Raja Permaisuri of Perak, Tuanku Bainun Binti Mohd. Ali. Her tireless dedication to charitable causes had touched countless lives, and it was only fitting that she be recognized in the name of our founder, Melvin Jones.
The ceremony was steeped in tradition and grace. His Royal Highness, Sultan Muhibbuddin Shah, himself a previous MJF recipient, graced the occasion, lending it a regal weight that few Lions have ever witnessed.
And then, as if the day hadn’t already overflowed with meaning, the audience joined in a joyous celebration of Sultan Azlan Shah’s birthday—complete with a cake-cutting ceremony and heartfelt cries of Daulat Tuanku! Daulat Tuanku! Daulat Tuanku!
Among the 300 attendees were state dignitaries, Lions, Lionesses, and fellow service champions. But beyond the titles and honors, what lingered most was the spirit of unity—the shared belief that service transcends status, and that recognition, when given with sincerity, uplifts us all.
