KCGCCI in Brief

The Kuching Chinese General Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCGCCI) (“the Chamber”) was founded in 1890. It was originally named "Sarawak Chinese Chamber of Commerce". After several changes, the current name of Kuching Chinese General Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCGCCI) was finally adopted and has been in use since 1993. The first Chairman of the Chamber was the late Kapitan Ong Tiang Swee. The White Rajah of Sarawak allowed the Chamber to use the Building of Chinese Court situated at Kuching Waterfront as its office from 1930 onward until the conversion of the said premises into the Chinese Pioneer Museum in 1992.

The current premises of the Chamber is an eight-storey building situated at Jalan Bukit Mata Kuching with a traditional Chinese-style roof-top and walled with modern glass curtain.lt is a unique building erected within the golden triangle of the Kuching city.

The late Tan Sri Datuk Amar Wee Boon Ping served KCGCCI from 1977 to 1998 as its longest serving president for 21 years. The chamber's building was completed during the tenure of his outstanding leadership with his generous financial contribution.

The First Division Education Fund of RM 3 million was initiated and set up by KCGCCI in 1979 with the support of Chinese community in Kuching. The Federation of Chinese Associations of Kuching, Samarahan and Serian Divisions, Sarawak (previously known as The Federation Of The First Division Chinese Associations, Sarawak, then The Federation Of Kuching And Samarahan Divisions Chinese Associations, Sarawak) was also formed in 1979, with KCGCCI as one of its founding members and Tan Sri Datuk Amar Wee Boon Ping was elected as its first president, a position he held until his demise in 1998.

The presidents who served KCGCCI from 1890 are:-

1890-1910; 1930-1931; Kapitan Ong Tiang Swee
1911-1912; 1917-1918; Mr. Lau Ghee Siang
1912-1916; Mr. Chen Kee Ong
1931-1935；1938-1941；1946； Datuk Wee Kheng Chiang
1936-1937； Mr. Tan Sam Guan
1947-1955； Mr. Tan Bak Lim
1956-1962； Mr. Tan Kui Choon
1963-1964； Mr. Tan Chui Kiaw
1964-1965； Mr. Tan Tsak Yu
1966-1976； Datuk Amar Wee Hood Teck
1977-1998/10； Tan Sri Datuk Amar Wee Boon Ping
1998/11-1999； Datuk Chan Siaw Hee
1999/7-2001/6; Mr. Chua Beng Thian
2001/7 – 2017/6; Datuk Wee Kok Tiong
2017/6 till now; Dato Tan Jit Kee

The main objectives of the Chamber is to cultivate friendly relationship and unity amongst its members; to promote public welfare and unity amongst various communities, to promote and expand trade and business; to promote and sponsor cultural and charitable activities; to liaise with other Chambers of Commerce and trade organizations, including to organise or participate in various meetings relating to trade and industry, trade missions and exhibitions and other activities relevant to the promotion of economic development.

The highest authority of the Chamber is vested in the Biennial General Meeting of its members. The Management Committee is formed under the General Meeting, consisting 45 committee members of which 35 representatives are elected from its individual members and 10 representatives are elected from its trade association members.

Currently, the Chamber has 1134 members of which 23 are trade association members, the
remaining 1111 are individual members from various firms and companies.

In order to facilitate the operation of the Chamber, 12 separate committees are set up, namely, Industry Committee, Commerce Committee, Agriculture Committee,
Digital Economy Committee, Human Resources Development Committee, Public Relation Committee, Welfare Committee, Property Committee, Building Management Committee, Finance Committee, Legal Affairs Committee and Young Entrepreneurs Committee. Each committee consists of approximately 10 members and aims at carrying out the objectives of the respective committee.

The Chamber’s activities include dealing with commercial and industrial inquiries, certifications and authentications, organising local and overseas trade missions, regularly organising and participating in commercial and industrial activities such as seminars and dialogues with governmental and statutory bodies, publishing newsletters, providing current and latest business information to its members, giving scholarships, visiting and donating to charitable bodies during Chinese New Year and etc.

Beside being a founding member of The Federation of Chinese Associations of Kuching, Samarahan and Serian Divisions, Sarawak, the Chamber is also one of the 14 founding members of 3 Chinese Independent High Schools and 6 Chinese Primary Schools in Kuching.