ABOUT FOUNDER
Mr. Peter Tan Hiang Hock
The memory in the past 20 years in Penang, the founder of
Persatuan Syukur Penyayang Pulau Pinang, Mr Peter Tan Hiang Hock
The Founder of Persatuan Syukur Penyayang Pulau Pinang – Mr. Peter Tan Hiang Hock
Celebrating the 13th anniversary and birthday with elderly 93 years-old birthday, picture from left is Syukur Penyayang committee Mr. Low, founder Mr. Peter Tan Hiang Hock, Y.B. Chong Eng and Shally Yeap (Secretary of Syukur Penyayang) (photo taken on 18 Nov 2018)
Founder of Syukur Penyayang
The Founder of Persatuan Syukur Penyayang Pulau Pinang –
Mr. Peter Tan Hiang Hock
Mr. Tan is the founder of “Persatuan Syukur Penyayang Pulau Pinang”. Whenever Mr.
Tan saw the scene of old people begging around the bus stop, he felt very sad in his heart. He always wondered why these old people will have such a fate. Seeing this situation, the thought of serving these old people came across Mr. Tan’s mind. The idea of helping those in need elderly getting stronger in his mind.
After completing his last job in Sabah in 1997, Mr. Tan went to Taiwan through the Catholic Church. He stayed in Taiwan and returned to Malaysia until year 2001. On July 11, 2001, this is the first time Mr. Tan came to Penang and Mr. Tan take off the bus at Komtar bus terminal. After that, Mr. Tan saw homeless old folks begging around bus terminal and Penang Road area. Therefore, Mr. Tan found out that Penang requires an old folks home as a shelter for those homeless old folks and he determined to start up his first old folks home in Penang.
Mr. Tan started his first job in a flower shop after reaching Malaysia. Three months later, Mr. Tan stepped into the society for another three years. The idea of starting an old folks home began in year 2004.
Initially, the old folks home was registered under the name of “Gan En Zhi Jia” on 20th December 2004. “Gan En Zhi Jia” encountered several difficulties during the planning process. The old folks home started the operation on 1st January 2006. Initially, Mr. Tan assisted three homeless old-people to stay into old folks home. The number of residents increased across the time. In the first decade, the old folks home didn’t publicize to the society. To maintain the operation, “Gan En Zhi Jia” always relied on the money from recycling and depending on the fund from society.
Unfortunately, Mr. Tan encountered spinal cord injury in year 2016. Hence, the old folks home began to employ part - time staff. After affected by the floods on 15th September 2017 and 5th November 2017, the old folks home started to recruit committee members for the registration under Societies Act 1966.
The old folks home finally relocated to a new residential area at Sungai Ara. The name of “Gan En Zhi Jia Bhd” was officially changed to “Persatuan Syukur Penyayang Pulau Pinang”.