Businessman Johnson Koh stands tall with pride as he keeps a tradition going at the Sandakan District Tennis Association ( SDTA) – when he once again was the main sponsor when the association held its Chinese New Year open house for the 36th time.
Johnson, who is also the president of the Sabah Tennis Association and a vice-president of the Lawn Tennis Association of Malaysia, has been driving force behind the traditional event.
SDTA held the Chinese New Year open house on the first day of the piggy animal year. This event has been organized for the last 36 years with life member Johnson Koh being the main sponsor and the man behind the traditional event.
Johnson is also remembered as the man who sponsored junior tennis players from not well to do families in Sandakan and paid their schools fees.
This year’s CNY open house was held at the Sandakan Tennis Club where all tennis members and players of SDTA were invited together are invited together with their family members.
A friendly tennis match was followed by a lion dance and dinner. Angpows and oranges were distributed to those not married – no matter how young or old they were.There was also a karaoke session.
“The tradition of holding a CNY open house began 36 years ago. The main purposeof this event is to foster friendships and harmony among tennis players and members to bring better team spirit and mutual tolerance,” said Johnson, adding that Sandakan tennis always “practice the spirit of visiting” during festivities in Sandakan. RIZAL ABDULLAH
