By Vincent D’Silva

JOHOR BAHRU: The Nanhua Wushu Dragon & Lion Troupe in Kangkar Pulai originally aimed to raise RM100,000… but ended up pulling in over TEN times that amount. What was supposed to be a simple fundraising dinner for their new headquarters basically turned into a celebration party.

Fundraising committee chairman Datuk Teo Boon Hui said the initial target was RM100,000, but thanks to massive support from the community, the total is now closing in on RM1.5 million.

He said hitting this crazy milestone was all because of the generosity of the Chinese community and their many kind supporters.

Speaking at the dinner, at Restoran Pekin KK Sdn Bhd he shared that the plan to build a headquarters had been in the works for nearly 20 years. They bought the land 10 years ago and have been grinding ever since. This January, they finally got the green light from the city council, and construction has already begun.

Teo also stressed that Nanhua’s steady growth and its mission to promote Chinese culture wouldn’t be possible without everyone’s support and hard work. The grand dinner tonight, he said, is thanks to every person who helped — and he personally name-checked them all on stage.

Asian Dragon & Lion Sports Federation president Chan Wing Kit also attended. Speaking in Cantonese, he said the troupe has played a “super important role” in preserving and promoting dragon-lion culture over the years.

“Nanhua isn’t just making Johor proud — they’re putting Malaysia on the world map. Building this headquarters isn’t just about a building; it’s about planting roots for the culture and building the future.”

International Dragon & Lion Dance Federation president Lou Ngit Dee said he was moved to see how strong the dragon-lion scene has become in Malaysia.

“Since Nanhua was founded, they’ve been winning titles left and right, locally and internationally. But even more impressive than their achievements is the spirit and discipline they uphold, keeping traditional Chinese values at the heart of what they do.”

He added that rebuilding the headquarters is a major move to attract more talented youth into the art — it’s not just a big project, it’s a solid commitment to the next generation.

He also announced a personal donation of RM108,888 for the headquarters project. Meanwhile, Tebrau MP Jimmy Puah, who officiated the event, pledged RM20,000.

In his address Jimmy Puah is calling on the government to quickly lock in a solid traffic-management plan before the RTS Link between JB and Singapore goes live. He’s suggesting three major “transfer hubs” to help spread out the crowd, since the line is expected to handle up to 200,000 commuters daily. Without a plan, he warns, the Bukit Chagar station area could turn into a total traffic nightmare from day one.

He said this during his speech last night at the Nanhua Wushu Dragon & Lion Dance Troupe fundraising dinner in Taman Rinting.

Puah highlighted that the RTS ride itself only takes a few minutes and uses a “one-stop clearance” system—passengers just tap their passport once in Malaysia and boom, they’re in Singapore.

“With things running so efficiently, the crowd is gonna explode—and that’s gonna put crazy pressure on city roads,” he said.

He shared that he has repeatedly pushed in Parliament for a traffic-flow plan, including banning private cars from picking up passengers around the station and rolling out tons of mini-bus shuttles to help people exit the area smoothly.

He suggested three major hubs to split the crowd:

• One in the north at Kulai,
• One on the west side at Bukit Indah or Iskandar Puteri,
• And one in the east at Tebrau or Pasir Gudang.

“I really hope the government takes this seriously. I don’t want people to be excited at first, then end up frustrated. That would kind a ruin everything.”

On another note, Puah said that ever since the Johor–Singapore SEZ agreement was signed, Johor has been pulling in major investments, rapidly becoming a key engine of Malaysia’s economic growth. This momentum, he said, comes not just from federal and state efforts but also from strong industry participation.

But he reminded that fast economic growth also brings pressure on locals.

For example, he noted that JB property prices have shot up—double-storey terrace houses are hitting around RM800,000. Rising land prices, construction costs, development costs, and overall living expenses are making things tougher for residents.

“In this situation, young people feel the impact even more. The government needs to pay attention—because these economic pressures are basically one of the toughest problems Malaysia is facing right now.”

The dinner banquet hosted over 120 tables, with lively toasts, a brand partnership MoU signing ceremony, a Fuwang Holdings signing ceremony, and multiple song-and-dance performances — the whole vibe was buzzing.

Other VIPs present included Johor Chinese community elder Datuk Ng Kwang Soon, main sponsor Kuan Qun International Group founder and executive chair Datuk Wira Pang Kang Nam, and its real estate division managing director and CEO Pang Yee Farn.