MALAYSIAN ASSOCIATION OF PUNJABI DIGNITARIES
It was in Club Aman Kuala Lumpur on April 8th, 2018 that Dato Sarjit Singh Sekhon, Dato Dr Gurcharan Singh and Dato Sohan Singh Randhawa mooted the idea to form an association of Malaysian Punjabis who have been bestowed with titles of Datukship and higher awards by their Royal Highness Yang Di Pertuan Agung, The Royal Highnesses Sultans of Malaysia and Their Excellencies Governors of Malaysia. As Malaysians first and Punjabis second, the primary objective was to uphold the constitution of the Government and the Monarchy, enhance our network to foster sound and healthy inter-racial harmony and goodwill among the different faiths in Malaysia and finally to continue to practice the Punjabi tradition and culture. Membership to the Association is open to all faiths and religious beliefs with Punjabi ancestorial background.
An interest meeting was convened at the Royal Selangor Club Dataran Merdeka Kuala Lumpur on the 17th April 2018 and from the many invited the following attended, namely Dato’ Dr Gurcharan Singh, Dato’ Sri Harban Singh Mula, Dato’ Rajpal Singh Sandhu, Datuk Harjit Singh Sidhu, Dato’ Ir Sukdev Singh Sidhu, Lt. Kol (B) Datuk Dr Dalbir Singh Sagoo and Dato’ Sarjit Singh Sekhon. After deliberations and review of the draft constitution, they unanimously agreed to go ahead with the formation of the organisation. A Protem Committee consisting of Dato’ Dr Gurcharan Singh, Dato’ Sri Harban Singh, Dato’ Rajpal Singh Sandhu, Datuk Harjit Singh Sidhu and Dato’ Sarjit Singh Sekhon was formed. Dato Sarjit Singh Sekhon, who did the first draft constitution was tasked to initiate registration with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) as “Majilis Dato-Dato Punjabi Malaysia”.
L-R: Dato Sri Harbans S Mula; Datuk Harjit S Sidhu; Dato’ Ir. Sukhdev S Sidhu; Dato Dr Gurcharan; Dato Sarjit S Sekhon; Dato Dr SS Sagoo; Dato Rajpal Singh (April17,2018)
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Dato Sarjit Singh Sekhon, Datuk Harjit Singh Sidhu and Dato Rajpal Singh had several meetings with ROS. WP to register Majlis Dato-Dato Punjabi Malaysia. ROS, WP rejected the use of the term Dato due to the new Government directive. This matter was then referred to Datuk Harjeet Singh from the Biro Pengaduan Awam of the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya. He called for an official meeting with the ROS HQ. They then resolved that we can use the term Tokoh in Malay and Dignitaries in English. A fresh application was made to ROS WP and on the 30th April 2019 “Persatuan Tokoh Punjabi Malaysia” or “Malaysian Association of Punjabi Dignitaries was approved and registered.
An interest meeting was held at Club Aman KL on the 12th August 2018. Twenty-two Dato’s from eight (8) states attended the meeting. After presenting an overview of the organization and future directions the meeting concluded with the formation of the Adhoc Executive Committee Members.
