KUCHING: The Rotary Club of Kuching marked a historic milestone today with the 85th Presidential Installation Ceremony, welcoming Justin Yntig Bersales as its 85th Club President.
The immediate past president was Charlie Ong, who held the presidency for one year.
This one-year term also applied to the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors in the Rotary Club is composed of 14 individuals, each holding a respective chairmanship role in the different avenues of service championed by Rotary.
The event, held at one of the hotels here, brought together Rotarians, dignitaries and community leaders in a celebration of service, leadership and fellowship.
Justin, a long-standing member known for his dedication to humanitarian initiatives, pledged to uphold Rotary’s motto of ‘Service Above Self’ and outlined his vision for the year ahead.
His plans include expanding youth engagement through Interact and Rotaract clubs, strengthening community health programmes, and fostering international partnerships.
The Rotary Club has launched an ambitious roadmap for the upcoming Rotary year, pledging to expand its impact through a variety of transformative initiatives.
Central to the plan is bolstering support for The Rotary Foundation, with a strong emphasis on flagship programmes like PolioPlus, aimed at eradicating polio worldwide.
In addition to healthcare, he said the club is setting its sights on projects in literacy, environmental preservation, sanitation improvement, and advancing the mental and social wellbeing of youth.
This multifaceted approach reflects Rotary’s enduring commitment to ‘Service Above Self’.
The club also intends to strengthen its internal foundation by increasing membership, reviving ties with international sister clubs, and forging new partnerships that embody collaborative service.
“Most importantly, club leaders underscored their dedication to reaching society’s most vulnerable: ‘the unseen, the unheard, the forgotten’.
“These are the individuals the club seeks to uplift – restoring dignity and hope through purposeful action,” he said.
As the Rotary year unfolds, the club invites the community to take part in building a future rooted in compassion, unity, and meaningful service.
“I aspire to deliver all the projects we have planned for this year with the support of our members and partners, and create awareness so that more people will know and join hands with Rotary – either as new members or partners – to do more meaningful projects that will make an impact on the least in our society.
“These are big goals, and I can’t do this alone. That’s why I call upon all our members to walk with me in this journey. My presidency only has meaning if we move forward together.
“I understand our challenges – young families, career demands, health, time – we all have limitations. That is exactly why Rotary calls us to rise above.
“To live our motto: ‘Service Above Self’, and to measure our actions by the Four-Way Test. In Rotary, humanity is our business. So long as suffering and inequality exist, Rotary must – and will – exist,” he said.
He personally thanked three dynamic and ever-supportive Past District Governors of District 3310.
Among them were PDG Datuk Steven Timothy Wan Ullok (Justin’s father-in-law), who has always supported and encouraged him to be active in Rotary; PDG Andre Suharto, a close family friend from Indonesia who made a lasting impact in Rotary both in the District and beyond, and his wife Norzan, who was a student of Justin’s late mother-in-law; and PDG Dr John Chan, who played a crucial role in sending Justin’s wife, Audry Wan Ullok, to the Philippines under the same Group Study Exchange programme back in 2000.
The ceremony featured cultural performances, heartfelt tributes to outgoing leaders, and the unveiling of new service projects.
Guests of honour included past presidents, district officials, and representatives from sister clubs across Malaysia and Singapore.
As the Rotary Club of Kuching enters its 85th year, Justin’s leadership promises a renewed commitment to impactful service and community transformation.
