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The Photographic Society of Malaysia – History in the Making

(Photographs from this publication will be featured in our Portfolio page)

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.

Text by: Teng Wei