about us IN THE BEGINNING...

1959

The idea of setting up Junior Chamber started in 1959 The three people closely associated in the formation the first chapter in Jesselton (Kota Kinabalu) were En. Fauzi Patel, Mr. John Hii and Mr. Michael Chen. Fauzi Patel was with the Sabah Times and was on a study tour to Australia The tour was hosted by the Nombour Junior Chamber, Queensland. The study tour motivated him.

About the same time John Hii, was manager of M/S Jardine Waugh Co and was on a training course in London. He attended the 11th JCI World Congress in Paris. He was impressed with the friendliness, warmth and charm of the participants of the world congress.

Michael Chen, then the Manager of Cathay Cinema, was contacted by Fauzi Patel and John Hii and the idea was mooted to start recruiting members for a Junior Chamber for Jesselton (Kota Kinabalu). In January 1962 a meeting was held with the attendance of Lee Choon Fatt, Robert De Souza, John Su and Geogre Chin to discuss the matter further

On the 1st July 1962 the 1st Organisational Meeting was held at the Jesselton Recreation Club. There were seveteen members present; RD Patel, John Hii Michael Chen, Lee Choon Fatt, Robert De Souza, John Su, Teo Geok Seang, Yuen Peng Cheng, Mak Sin Loong, Ho Fook Kee, Lim Kim Jee, Lim Beng Aun, John Foo, Spencer Lim, Peter Soong and Liew Yun Choi

1962

The Jesselton Junior Chamber was created with the following PROTEM officers;

Ag. Chairman John Hii

VP (External) George Chin

VP(Internal) Lee Choon Fatt

Secretary RD Patel

Treasurer Michael Chen

Directors :

Teo Geok Seng

Hoo Fook Kee

Yeun Peng Cheng

Mak Sin Loong

The Inauguration General Meeting, held on 2nd November 1962, produced the following Board of Directors;

President George Chin

VP (External) Lee Choon Fatt

VP(Internal) John Hii

Secretary James Yapp

Treasurer Foo Tiang Keng

Directors : Lawrence Liew

Lim Su Seng

Michael Chen

E. Patel

From a membership size of 17 in 1962, Jesselton Junior Chamber has grown and transformed into Kota Kinabalu Jaycees to Kota Kinabalu Junior Chamber and finally to JCI Kota Kinabalu.