The Clash of the Titans – Rotary Wins

An article from Rotary Trainer :

I drove to Ipoh yesterday to testify in Rotary’s trial of the century. The first of its kind since the inception of Rotary in Malaysia in 1929. The players were 2 distinguished Past District Governors and Rotary Icons in their own right. But more importantly, two really good friends.




PDG Ariff is as good an decent as men come and PDG Jimmy is a great champion of Rotary and a man who has the courage of his convictions. Both imbued with the great Rotary spirit of Service Above Self. Another day and under different circumstances, one could be the mentor and the other his prodigy. But not today.



The trial was the emanation of a lawsuit brought by PDG Jimmy against PDG Ariff for defamation because of statements he is alleged to have made over the micro credit project undertaken by the former. Those of us that attended the District Conference at the Syuen Hotel will be familiar with the issue and would have thought that in the light of the District apology to PDG Jimmy in the matter, everything was settled.



But everything continued to simmer in the background. And there were many malevolent invisible players I suspect who nurtured it along on both sides. With rumours and gossip and all manner of foul innuendoes – people who had their own axes to grind. They continuously fanned the ambers that grew into a large fire and imploded into a lawsuit that was about to engulf us all in Ipoh today.



How is a man to testify in a case where two of his best friends are on opposite sides? You cannot imagine my anxiety! One thing was crystal clear to me, regardless of what the outcome, Rotary was going to be the loser today.



Then like a miracle – the fog lifted. I was informed that both parties had been called into chambers with the judge and that the matter was settled amicably with a handshake. They had agreed for Rotary’s sake to end the fued and shook hands. This is leadership by example. I am absolutely confident that it could not have been easy for either party, convinced of their righteousness, to have given in and yet they did – Rotary Wins Today thanks to two great men, who sacrificed their personal positions for the greater good.