"Care for One". Which one?
DG Annie Ho,
I am writing to you with grave concern and mounting frustration. In September 2024, I explicitly raised the issue that no election was conducted for the 2024/2025 office bearers of the Lions Club Kota Kinabalu Centennial. Your dismissive response—that I am not a member and should take it up with LCI—was wholly inadequate. I followed your directive and contacted LCI, only to receive no resolution. This is unacceptable.
Oh, brace yourselves, folks—the 63rd MD308 Lions Convention is descending upon Melaka, Malaysia, from April 24 to 27, 2025, with all the pomp and circumstance of a high school reunion desperate to prove it’s still relevant. Hosted at the swanky Hatten Hotel and Holiday Inn, the Lions Clubs International (LCI) faithful will gather to pat each other on the back, swap stories of their saintly community service, and, naturally, pretend everything’s just peachy in Lion-land. This year’s theme? “Leave Your Legacy.” Oh, the irony. Because if the current drama is any indication, the legacy they’re leaving smells more like favoritism and flimsy excuses than the noble roar they’re so fond of trumpeting.
The 63rd MD308 Lions Convention is set to take place from April 24 to 27, 2025, in Melaka, Malaysia, hosted at the Hatten Hotel and Holiday Inn. It’s a big event for the Lions Clubs International (LCI), a global service organization known for its community work. Members—often called "Lions"—will gather to celebrate their achievements, network, and plan for the future. On the surface, it’s a polished affair, with Lions proudly showcasing their dedication to service. But beneath the glossy exterior, there’s a troubling issue casting a shadow over the event—one that raises questions about fairness, leadership, and the organization’s integrity.
I’ve been mulling over two frustrating matters while weeding in my garden—two situations where people seem to dig in rather than deal with the issues at hand. First, why aren’t the developer and architect in the Vistana Heights case taking the easy way out by buying back my property at market value instead of dragging this to court? Second, why is Lions Clubs International (LCI) not acting against the Lions Club of Kota Kinabalu Centennial Club when I’ve openly pointed out their failure to hold an election meeting, which violates the LCI Constitution? The same question applies to District Governor Annie Ho, who has thrown up hurdles to stop PP Chin Chee Thau from meeting for the Club Dispute Resolution Procedure (CDRP). Let’s unpack these one at a time, exploring how stonewalling, the backfire effect, and a stubborn refusal to think might be at play.
Here is a response to my post yesterday that I received after posting in my blog yesterday. LINK
Luqman Michel that’s wonderful. I know a few good ones (Pro-bona lawyers)in Colorado. Let me know and you can tap my network. I am a restorative justice mediator. Let me think about your questions deeply. We shall find a solution. Promise.
I replied immediately:
Fatima Fernandez Wow! Thank you very much. Here is my email to the International President that has yet to be responded to. This may help you to think.
This is my email to District Governor Annie Ho.
If Annie Ho had acted upon my several complaints to her in September 2024, I would not have had to go to the local papers.
My friend, would not have been expelled from his club with trumped-up charges.
Now the whole world knows how Lions Clubs are badly managed because Annie Ho did not do her job as a District Governor. The root cause is the First VDG.
This email was copied to: ClubStatus@lionsclubs.org, esuriyati@gmail.com, tansohhar@gmail.com, lionronny168@gmail.com,datojimmytie@gmail.com, jteolc@gmail.com,drtantmc@yahoo.com, Yuniezah Marlya. Bt. Yunos,BPA Negeri Sabah
DG Annie Ho,
I am writing to you with grave concern and mounting frustration. In September 2024, I explicitly raised the issue that no election was conducted for the 2024/2025 office bearers of the Lions Club Kota Kinabalu Centennial. Your dismissive response—that I am not a member and should take it up with LCI—was wholly inadequate. I followed your directive and contacted LCI, only to receive no resolution. This is unacceptable.
Dear Emily Seaholm,
Further to my email dated 1.3.25, I am writing to you as a concerned citizen deeply troubled by alleged unethical conduct within the Centennial Lions Club District 308A2. While I understand and respect the principle of club autonomy, the gravity of the situation compels me to bring these matters to your attention, as they pose a significant threat to the reputation and ethical standing of Lions Clubs International.
What happens when District Governors (DGs) are unaware of the dispute resolution guidelines outlined on the Lions Clubs International (LCI) website? This was the situation my friend faced after being expelled on March 10th, 2025. He attempted to resolve the issue amicably, avoiding the formal Dispute Resolution Procedure (DRP), especially since the DG had arbitrarily set a cost of USD 200 instead of the usual amount of USD 50.
Should LCI Suspend the Club That Expelled a Long-Serving Member?
If the club’s board was appointed rather than elected, as stipulated in the Lions Clubs International Constitution and By-Laws, this would constitute a clear violation of LCI’s governance standards. LCI emphasises fair elections and adherence to the International Constitution and By-Laws. Appointing board members without an election undermines democratic principles and the organisation’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
Answer: The VDG, The DG, All PDGs who are aware of the expulsion, ROS and Lions Club International.
Let’s look at the role played by ROS and LCI.
Under the Standard Lions Club Constitution (Article VI - Officers), Lions Clubs International explicitly mandates that all officers—typically including the president, vice presidents (first, second, and third), secretary, treasurer, and others like the membership chairperson—must be elected annually by the club members. The election process is outlined in Article VII, which states that officers are elected at a designated meeting (usually in April) by a majority vote of members present, with nominations coming from a nominating committee and the floor.
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.
Please read my previous post before reading the following. LINK
My follow up question to Grog 3.
Yes, any help from you will be great. Meanwhile, to give you more detail. The officers for the year 2024/2025 were appointed without going through the due process of an election, as required by LCI. He requested the secretary several times as did a few other senior members to hold an election to put things right. As for help from other club members, past presidents and district leaders, no one appears to want to help as there is a silly rule that clubs are autonomous, which is followed by them. Your comment, please.
Here is the answer:
This morning, a Facebook friend, Dwayne Min Johnson, taught me a new Chinese phrase "长江后浪推前浪" (cháng jiāng hòu làng tuī qián làng), which translates to "the waves behind drive the waves in front" in English. This idiom carries a rich metaphorical meaning.
This is apt for our discussion on Lions Clubs International sticking with a decades-old system of saying that only members can complain about Lions Clubs flagrantly breaking rules and regulations set up by LCI. This sounds like the club telling LCI, ‘catch me if you can’, knowing that no member will complain to LCI.
向下滚动查看中文翻译Dwayne Min Johnson
You really hate Lions Club. You attack a club and claim it was a crime ….to me, this is an attack.
It must be related to the April election...Hopefully, you can achieve your goals by then.
Luqman Michel my question is still the same….What’s your motive behind it, but when I saw your posting on the Mandarin version ..I guess I know why and who is behind all this…..you can tell the whole world how righteous you can be, but people with a clear view will know what your motive is…good luck to you.
The following was a reminder to the International Director of Lions in September 2024.
This is for posterity to inform Lions that I did all I could to nip this problem in the bud.
I pray this email finds you in good health and cheer.
In 2017 I complained about my former Club, Lions Club of Kota Kinabalu host, which had secret bank accounts unknown to most members and directors of the club. It also altered the minutes of meetings. Lion members and LCI did not address the problem and that club was finally de-registered.
Now, another club, The Centennial Lions Club of Kota Kinabalu has issued a notice of expulsion to a senior member who tried to help by asking relevant questions to members of the club.
Further questions to ponder.
The Annual General Meeting was held on 27.8.2024.
34 members attended the meeting.
The secretary reported the secretary report for Fiscal Year 2023- 2024.
It stated that the election of office bearers was held for the fiscal year 2024-2025.
There was no mention of the date and time it was held or the place it was held.
Kota Kinabalu Centennial Lions Club. - Malaysia. District 308-A2.
I learned in July this year, that the records at the Registrar of Societies were updated with new office bearers for the period 1.7.2024 to 30.6.2025.
However, several Club members were upset because no election was held.
When I heard this conversation, I was upset because of the fraudulent updating of records at the ROS. This was similar to what LCKKHost did in 2017.
In 2017, my friend said on Facebook that the Lions Club members are in the club just to rub shoulders. Yes, they have a chance to take photos with Ministers and TYT that they will never have a chance otherwise.
When it comes to solving problems encountered, they are nowhere to be seen.
Here is my Facebook attempt to get Lawrence Ting to help. This was in September.
I also wrote on his Facebook main page as well as on Messenger.
