PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

LIEW CHOON KONG

(KONG WOOI FONG TEA MERCHANTS SDN. BHD.)

PRESIDENT of Malaysia Tea Association 

TEA is ranked amongst the top three most revered beverages in the world. For centuries, tea has been gracing the tables on all occasions and bridging the gaps of all walks of life, especially in its country of origin, China, where tea drinking has long been upheld as an important cultural aspect.

In a broader perspective, the entire tea growing and trading process of the commodity has not only been beneficial to individuals and nations, but also to the world, socially, culturally, economically and even politically, over the span of thousands of years.

Through the hard work and determination of our predecessors, tea has since spread far and wide from China. It was with the same unwavering spirit and resolve of the overseas Chinese that we, their fellow descendants in Malaysia, get to share and reap the fruits of this wondrous commodity from our forefathers.

Driven by the revival of tea drinking culture, the twenty-first century foresees an upsurge of tea consumption, which in turn enables a steady growth of the commodity. Whilst global warming, raging pandemic and/or political instability in some tea-growing countries may have posed negative impact on total tea output, Malaysia still serves as an ideal tea stowing and trading point with our low import tariff policy and strategic geological location.

Malaysia has a unique blend of Chinese, Asian and Western tea-drinking cultures that delve deep into our tradition. While it is reflective of our multi-racial society, it also enables Malaysia to play a vital role in promoting tea trading on a global basis.

As we journey into more than 60 decades of establishment, it is most gratifying to see that our Association has progressed, flourished, and fuelled by the abundant wealth of experiences of our fellow members. So long we stay united in safeguarding the rights and benefits of our commodity and endorse fair trade, I am positive of a buoyant outlook for tea trading for years to come.

I am blessed to be able to follow in the footsteps of my late father, Liew Yin Beng, who co-founded the Association and served as the President for many terms. Having witnessed the hard labour of our predecessors, I cherish the Association with the highest esteem and vow hereby, to put all my effort towards the welfare of our Tea Association!

 

茶,为世界三大饮料之一,是许多正式场合、喜丧宴席和日常生活的大角,却又总是低调内敛,从不张扬。茶,不僅是农业的、商业的、经济的、政治的,也是个人的、民族的、文化的、世界的,是人类共有的臻品。

踏入21 世纪,饮茶风气回盛,茶界百家争鸣,世界茶叶消费量呈上升趋势。但是,气候生态异常、各种疫情肆虐、政经格局动荡等问题,又让茶业界面对了供求不稳定和茶叶价格飙升的难题。

茶,是地之甘露,在发源地中国,茶以药膳、茶以会友的文化历史源远流长。茶叶和茶具最初因循古代海上丝绸之路的开拓来到马来西亚,承蒙华人先贤的筚路蓝缕和商贾移民之堅持不懈,“有茶千里来相会”的文化在这里扎根繁衍。

马来西亚有着深层、独特的喝茶文化底蕴,绿菜、红茶和黑茶文化多元发展,既反映了马来西亚经长时间融合的多元文化特色,也为马来西亚积累了可以担当推动东盟以致世界茶业桥梁角色的实力。再者,马来西亚得天独厚的地理环境和温和气候条件,加上茶叶入口税优政策,更是存仓和转销优质茶的理想平台。

岁月荏苒,马来西亚茶业商会已经走过了一个甲子,凭借老茶商的个人历练和经验,拥抱新进茶商的新思和前瞻,我们始终贯彻“群策群力”的精神来坚守和拓展会务,呼吁互惠互利的良性商业活动,冀望大家在逆境中求共存,顺境中求兴和,一起迎向茶业的美好前景。

我自幼随数度出任会长兼创办人之一的先父刘英明出入马来西亚茶业商会议事,见识过先辈们在茶业经营上的毅力,目睹过他们的汗水与泪水,所以对商会有一定的情意结。承蒙大家的支持与厚爱,得以持续出任会长,我定秉持商会的初心,与一众理事携手为会员们谋求正道和权益!

仅以 “俯仰无愧天地,褒贬自有春秋” 共勉之。