05/12/2025
Celebrating the 96th Anniversary of the Rotary Club of Seremban, a club whose history is deeply woven into the early story of Rotary in Malaysia.
Long before District 3300 even existed, the Rotary Club of Seremban was already taking shape. Jim Davidson of the Rotary Club of Calgary, Canada, personally appointed by Rotary’s founder Paul Harris, was entrusted with the mission of bringing Rotary to Southeast Asia. After his visit to Myanmar in 1928, he made the daring journey into Malaya through a rough, non-existent road. His first stop was Penang, where in the British settlement his efforts led to the formation of the first seven Rotary clubs in Malaya.
As he travelled south towards Singapore, Jim Davidson continued planting the seeds of Rotary. After visiting Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur and Port Klang, one of his key stops was Seremban. Thanks to the efficient handling of documents by the local British residents and the fortunate timing of the limited shipping routes to the USA, Seremban became the very first Rotary Club to be officially chartered in Malaysia on 4 December 1929.
From this humble yet historic beginning, Rotary in Malaysia has grown tremendously. Today, Rotary Clubs in Malaysia are divided into two districts:
• The northern peninsula forms District 3300,
• While the southern peninsula, together with Sabah, Sarawak, Singapore and Brunei, is part of District 3310.
As we look back on 96 years of fellowship, service and unwavering commitment to the Four-Way Test, we honour the legacy of those who came before us and we celebrate the privilege of continuing this journey today.
Here’s to the Rotary Club of Seremban, the oldest chartered club in Malaysia, and to many more decades of service above self. 💛💙
