WHO IS AT FAULT?
Answer: The VDG, The DG, All PDGs who are aware of the expulsion, ROS and Lions Club International.
Let’s look at Lions Club International and Registrar of Societies (Malaysia) first.
In 2017, the Lions Club of Kota Kinabalu Host (LCKKHost) was deregistered by the ROS. Three members pooled monies to pay LCI subscription during the period when the club was deregistered.
Once the club was re-registered, they collected membership dues from individuals to set off subscriptions paid to Lions Clubs International (LCI) during the deregistered period. This violated both LCI and ROS rules. And now, the same director at ROS is overseeing KK Centennial during this alleged election bypass. That pattern could suggest either systemic oversight failures or something more deliberate.
LCI’s Standard Lions Club Constitution (Article II) ties membership dues to active club status. If LCKKHost was deregistered—meaning it was no longer recognized as an active club by LCI—collecting dues to send to LCI could be a misrepresentation of status, violating LCI’s policies on financial accountability. Deregistered clubs lose their charter and shouldn’t operate as official entities, let alone remit dues.
Under the Societies Act 1966 (Revised - 2021), a deregistered society (per Section 13) ceases to be a legal entity and cannot lawfully conduct activities like collecting funds under its former name. Doing so might breach Section 9’s record-keeping and reporting requirements or even Section 4 (unlawful societies), depending on the circumstances.
My complaint to the ROS in 2021/2022 going unanswered could reflect their policy of prioritizing member-driven disputes, as non-members lack standing unless public interest or criminality is evident. But if the same director was involved and the ROS consistently ignored such issues, it raises questions about enforcement rigor.
LCI’s reliance on district governors to monitor clubs could also falter if local leadership is disengaged or complicit. This would explain the inaction.
Clubs collect annual dues from members to cover administrative costs and international fees, which are then remitted to LCI. Article II of the Standard Lions Club Constitution typically states that members must pay these dues to remain in good standing with their club, and clubs must be in good standing (i.e., active, chartered, and compliant) to remit those dues to LCI.
Once deregistered, a club loses its charter and is no longer recognized as an official Lions entity.
If LCKKHost was deregistered by the ROS under the Societies Act 1966 (Revised - 2021) its ability to collect and remit dues to LCI should have ceased. For LCI to accept subscriptions from a deregistered club, knowing its status, would suggest either:
LCI’s financial or membership departments didn’t cross-check the club’s status before processing payments, which could be a clerical error or a gap in their systems.
LCI turned a blind eye, perhaps to retain membership numbers or revenue, which would be a breach of their own governance standards.
Chong Kiew Loi, a long standing Past President of the club was expelled for refusing to pay dues to a deregistered club. Several others paid the dues and then resigned to preserve their LCI status.
Expelling Chong for refusing to pay a deregistered club’s dues could be improper if the club lacked the authority to collect them post-deregistration. LINK
Members paying dues then resigning to stay in good standing with LCI suggests they were pressured into funding a defunct entity just to avoid losing their Lions membership entirely. This workaround points to confusion or mismanagement—why didn’t LCI redirect them to another active club instead?
Relevant posts:
“Societies that fail to comply with their constitutions will be deregistered, says DPM
Registered societies that conduct activities beyond their constitutions or violate the law will face deregistration by the Registrar of Societies (RoS).
Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this was to ensure that societies stayed in line with the objectives behind its establishment and constitution.”
“Hence, if there is a complaint against any society that does not comply with its own constitution, then the ROS will conduct an investigation and deregister it under Section 13 of the Societies Act 1966 (Act 335),” Zahid, who is also home minister, told the Dewan Negara today. LINK
1 comment:
A former Rotarian posed the question to ChatGPT, and the response is: It sounds like the club's governance is being compromised due to a failure to follow the proper election process. While the principle of club autonomy is important, it should not be used as an excuse to bypass fundamental rules set by LCI (Lions Clubs International). Autonomy should be within the framework of the constitution, not a loophole to justify irregularities.
A few key points to consider:
1. *LCI Governance & Compliance* – If LCI mandates an election and it was not held, this is a clear violation. You could escalate the matter to the district or even higher levels of LCI governance, as they have the authority to intervene in cases of non-compliance.
2. *Lack of Support from Senior Members* – This reluctance might stem from a fear of conflict, a culture of complacency, or simply not wanting to get involved in "internal club politics." However, their silence indirectly allows such irregularities to persist.
3. *Possible Next Steps* – If direct appeals to the club’s leadership and district officers have failed, you may need to:
- *Document the issue formally* (e.g., letters/emails showing requests for an election).
- *Gather like-minded members* who believe in due process.
- *Seek guidance from LCI’s constitutional and legal department* for an official ruling.
- *Consider external mediation* if the issue is dividing the club.
4. *Bigger Implications* – If such issues are ignored, it sets a precedent that club rules are optional, which can lead to further governance problems down the line.
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