A YOUNGER generation of leaders took the helm at the Sacred Heart School Old Students Association’s (Shosa) annual general meeting, signalling a spirit of renewal and continuity during the election of new office bearers.
Members described the transition as symbolic, with leadership gradually passing from alumni from the 1980s to those from the 1990s and 2000s who are determined to uphold the association’s traditions of service, loyalty and brotherhood.
Penghulu Yong King Sung was re-elected president for a fifth consecutive term.
A member of the Class of 1985, Yong said his continued role would provide stability during the transition period.
Assisting him are vice-presidents Henry Chiew Wee Koh from the Class of 1986 and Justin Teng (Class of 2003).
Among the younger office bearers are secretary-general Ignatius Lau (Class of 2004) and treasurer-general Albert Liu (Class of 2006).
Lau, a lawyer, and Liu, a businessman, were praised for strengthening communication, member engagement and youth participation within Shosa.
Yong also described the transition as “natural and necessary”, saying every generation has a responsibility to preserve the association’s legacy while preparing younger members to lead.
“A decade ago, leadership gradually shifted from the 1960s and 1970s generations to those from the 1980s.
“Today, history repeats itself as those of us from the 1980s begin making way for younger knights from the 1990s and 2000s,” he said.
The leadership shift around 2016 saw alumni from the 1980s generation modernising member engagement, strengthening alumni outreach and expanding support for the school community.
Before Yong’s presidency, Shosa was led by Robert Lau Hui Yew, followed by Hii Chang Kee in 2016.
With Yong’s re-election, alumni from the 1980s generation would have collectively led Shosa for 10 uninterrupted terms over two decades.
Yong said the association’s strength was in its culture of loyalty and gratitude, with former students continuing to support the school through fundraising, welfare initiatives, infrastructure projects and community outreach programmes.
