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Archive
The Photographic Society of Malaysia
– History in the Making
 (Photographs
from this publication will be featured here)
PSM was formerly known as “The Photographic Society of the Federation
of Malaya”. The Photographic Society of Malaysia (PSM), was formed
in 1956 by a group of serious photography enthusiasts, is now well-known
amongst photographers around the World. Founded by Mr. Low Kuan, Mr.
Leong Heng Peng, Mr. Foong Tuen Seng, Mr. Yee Mun Poh, Mr. C C Too,
Mr. Wan Ye Jing, Mr. Poon Sun Chow, Mr. Loke Pun, Mr. Chia Siew Seng,
Mr. Cheong Chew Wah, Mr. Liang Tsang Ying and Mr. Fong Chung, their
objectives are to:
1) promote photography arts
2) educate and improve standard of photography amongst its members
3) serve as a platform to foster closer relationship amongst photography
enthusiasts
Mr. Yee Mun Poh was elected the first President of the Society, while
Mr. Wan Ye Jing held the position as the honorable Secretary at the
time. With the support and recognition of the Sultan of Terengganu,
who held the position of Honorable Patron, the reputation of the Society
was well known amongst photographic enthusiasts. Known at the time as
THE Society, it had a majority of “whiteman” as its members.
The following year, the Society held a photographic exhibition to celebrate
its first anniversary with a record number of 277 photographs exhibited
by 46 members. Opened by the Honorable Patron Mr. Foong Tuen Seng, it
was a scene that made history in Malaysia.
The following years saw the addition of many supporters and royal patrons
such as the late former Prime Minister of Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman
Putra, the Sultan of Terengganu and the Sultan of Selangor joining the
Society as Honorable Patrons, while not forgetting Mr. Foong Tuen Seng.
In the year 1963, December 9, under the leadership of Mr. Wong Pak
Kee, who organized the Society’s first International Salon of
Photography exhibition, which was an event of a scale never held before.
This International exhibition was seen participated by 509 photographers
from 39 countries with 1,031 exhibits. It was opened by the late Honorable
Patron, Mr. Foong Tuen Seng.
The Society again recorded another history in 1965 when the late Tunku
Abdul Rahman Putra graced the opening ceremony of the 3rd International
Salon of Photography exhibition. The show displayed the excellent photography
of the former President Mr. Wong Pak Kee and members comprises of Mr.
Yuen Kok Leng, Mr. Lee Hin Mun, Mr. Low Kuan, Mr. Leong Heng Peng, Mr.
Cheong Chee Leong and so on, taking the Society into another level of
success.
With 50 years of history in the making, PSM continues to promote photography
as an art form amongst the general public, having gained wide recognition
and was officially registered with the registrar office as a Society
with the highest degree recognition which offered the application of
distinction in Associate-ship and Fellowship for its members and the
public alike.
50 years of effort exerted by its elected committee members have proven
PSM’s resilience in various events and activities to promote photography
with the objectives set forth by her founding members. The success of
27 International Salon exhibitions and the achievements of her members
in various photography contests around the World were proofs of her
accomplishments. Acceptance and Awards from these International Salons
were also eligible and recognized by the Photographic Society of America
(PSA) Star Ratings and Who’s Who, besides being credited towards
the PSA and Federation Internationale de Art Photographique (FIAP) distinctions.
After more than three decades of experience and effort by the various
elected committee members, the former president Mr. Ng Chee Kong and
his committees finally realized the dream of owning a premise for the
Society. The fund-raising committee comprised of Mr. Harry Woo Hong
Sang, Mr. Nyok Sin, Mr. Billy Too (PSM Legal Adviser), late Mr. Teoh
Keng Song and others, purchased the current address as the HQ at Kuchai
Entrepreneurs Park. In order to catalyze the effort of promoting photographic
art and fostering closer relationship amongst its members, Mr. Ng Chee
Kong, Mr. Harry Woo Hong Sang and Mr. Yan Choke Mun were appointed as
the Asset Trustee.
Thereafter, the former President Mr. Ng Chee Kong wrote another chapter
of history in 1991. PSM co-organized with Nanyang Siang Pau and The
Mines Resort with RM20,000 worth of prizes in a photography contest
to promote multiculturalism in our society. The success of this event
saw the former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohd graced the prize
giving ceremony. While our life member, Mr. Foo Kok Hin came out winner
of this contest.
In the same year, another chapter of history was written again. Under
the leadership of the Deputy President Mr. Yang Shao Ming of the Photographic
Society of China a contingent of more than 10 members visited Malaysia
and held an exhibition a the Shangri-la Hotel. Mr. Yang’s effort
in Sino-Malaysian relationship was awarded with Hon. FPSM by the former
President Mr. Ng Chee Kong. Members of the Chinese photographers were
seen visiting various tourist destinations in Kuala Lumpur and Malacca,
which was well documented in a number of news bulletins in our country.
Through out the years, the official committees organized various photographic
activities, some of which were co-organized with other societies and
clubs; international and local photographic contests; seminars and photography
shoot-out; indoor and outdoor photography opportunities for our members
and non-members alike. Such as the recent traveling photography experience
organized by the former Vice President Dr. Ng Chong Kin and former Hon
Secretary Mr. Harry Woo Hong Sang, recording their visits to India,
Nepal, China, Thailand and Indonesia. In 1996, the former President
Mr. Ng Chee Kong also helped to publish the Society’s first coffee-table
book entitled “PSM Members Photo Collection”.
In 2001, Mr. Harry Woo Hong Sang was elected as President of the Society,
whom has further promote and taken the Society into the International
arena which has seen closing ties with The Photographic Society of Thailand
as our “Sister” club. Various events and activities were
held thereafter, such as seminars and exhibitions from both amateur
and professional photographers from Thailand, Singapore, China, Taiwan
and Hong Kong etc. The recent events saw the exhibition of former President
Mr. Lee Hin Mun’s solo exhibition co-organized with Soka Gakkai
Malaysia (SGM); a solo exhibition by World famous photographer Mr. Teo
Bee Yan; Chinese-Malaysian cultural exchange program and exhibition;
International Salon of Photography and the publication of a collection
of images from our members – “Images of Inspiration”
in 2004 and this issue of coffee-table book – “Beyond Photography”
in conjunction with the Society’s 50th Anniversary celebration,
which has seen a tremendous support and sponsorships from all level
of our society and our members.
In view of the current pace of progress in our country, the Society
has made an effort to update her logo which depicts and symbolizes the
current economic development and globalization in line with our country’s
vision 2020.
The officially elected committee members are nominated every 2 years
with a team of 15 committee members, while an Annual General Assembly
is held every year with various photographic events and activities.
There are 2 types of membership; ordinary member and life member amongst
the 400 registered today from amateur to professional photographers,
local and abroad such as USA, Australia, UK, Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
In an effort to recognized members with their works, the former President
Mr. Ng Chee Kong suggested the application of Distinction for our members.
A working committee comprises of former Hon. Secretary Mr. Harry Woo
Hong Sang, Mr. Lek Wai Keong, Mr. Billy Too (PSM Legal Adviser) were
formed to gain recognition of Awards of Distinction, which was finally
approved by the Registrar Office of the Malaysian Government in 1990.
The application of Distinction was chaired, organized and promoted by
Mr. Lek Wai Keong which has seen the number of applications for Associate-ship
and Fellowship, while Hon Fellowship was also awarded to members who
have contributed to the service of the Society. In the same year, Hon.
E. PSM was also awarded with entry fee being void for participants in
the International Salon of Photography with more than 10 works accepted
in 3 consecutive Salon events.
In this new millennium, PSM will continue to aim, encourage and promote
photographic art which explores contemporary issues of self, society,
environment, technology, art and culture in all levels of our society,
institutions and organizations to move forward into another 10, 30 and
50 years into the future.
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