KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 — The Chinese community around the country today celebrated the 2016 Year of the Fire Monkey which is set to bring good luck, happiness and better prosperity for the people of Malaysia.

Open houses in conjunction with the Chinese New Year were also held nationwide on a moderate scale yet joyously celebrated together with people of all races and from all walks of life.

The open houses serve to further strengthen unity among the people in the country.

In Kuala Lumpur, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor together with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi attended open house ceremonies organised by the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) and Gerakan at Wisma MCA and Menara PGRM respectively.

In following the tradition, they were dressed in red for the auspicious occasion to celebrate the most important festival for the Chinese community in welcoming the new year in the Lunar calendar.

In Melaka, the Chinese New Year celebration began last night at Jonker Walk with a lion dance performance, colourful lantern and firework displays to entertain a crowd of over 1,000 including foreign tourists.

Although floods had hit certain Chinese populated areas such as Batu Berendam and Machap, Alor Gajah, the people went on with the tradition of visiting one another while chief minister, Datuk Seri Idris Haron is expected to attend Melaka MCA open house at Pay Fong Hall, Jalan Kubu this evening.

In Perak, elderly couple Lin Hon Sing, 76, and his wife Loh Poh Ling, 65, from Jepalang, Ipoh were overjoyed as the Year of the Monkey had certainly brought them good fortune. It could not be a better start for the New Year to hear that their house of over 50 years would be replaced with a brand new house.

The couple received the good news from Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir when he visited them at their home where they live with their two children and three grandchildren. Zambry when met told reporters, the house would soon be built by Yayasan Bina Upaya (YBU) according to the specified measurement and system for the poor

In Kedah, Kedah MCA deputy chairman Datuk Dr Leong Yong Kong when contacted said the state-level 2016 Chinese New Year Peace and Prosperity Carnival would be held at Dataran Tanjung Chali, Chinatown on February 12 at 8 pm and Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Basha Md Hanipah was expected to grace the event. In Kelantan, Kelantan MCA secretary Datuk Lua Choon Hann said over 40,000 Chinese people in the state celebrate the Chinese New Year and several community programmes were being held for the community, including ang pow presentation at the old folks home and scholarship awards for outstanding Primary School Achievement Test (UPSR) students. In Terengganu, some 500 people of various races including Terengganu State Assembly Speaker Datuk Zubir Embong attended an open house organised by MCA Terengganu. In Penang, the public today attended a Chinese New Year open house organised by Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng at Penang International Convention and Exhibition Centre (Spice), Bayan Baru, George Town starting from 10 am. Meanwhile popular sites such as Batu Feringghi and leading shopping malls were thronged with holidaymakers.

In Perlis, the small Chinese community started off the celebration by offering prayers at Poh An Kong Temple while Titi Tinggi assemblyman Khaw Hock Kong will host a Chinese New Year open house this Saturday (February 13). 

In Johor Baharu, Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar and the Permaisuri of Johor, Raja Zarith Sofia Sultan Idris Shah, spent over an hour celebrating the Chinese New Year at the residence of State Tourism, Trade and Consumerism Committee chairman, Datuk Tee Siew Kiong, in Taman Setia Tropika, here.

Also present were their children, Tunku Mahkota of Johor Tunku Ismail and his wife, Che’ Puan Khaleeda Bustamam, Tunku Puteri Johor Tunku Tun Aminah, Tunku Temenggong Johor Tunku Idris, Tunku Panglima Johor Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tunku Putera Johor Tunku Abu Bakar. Meanwhile, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin joined in the celebration with over 1,000 Chinese in the state at Wisma Persekutuan Tiong Hua. The event was enlivened by various fascinating cultural performances.

In Negeri Sembilan, about 500 people of various races from non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including state MCA chairman, Datuk Seri King Lim Chin Fui and state DAP chairman who is also Seremban MP, Anthony Loke Siew Fook attended a Chinese New Year celebration organised by the State Chinese Assembly Hall.

In Sarawak, the Yang Di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak, Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud and his wife, Toh Puan Ragad Kurdi Taib, joined in the celebration at an open house organised by Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) held at the party’s headquarters at Jalan Tan Sri Ong Kee Hui in Kuching. Also present were Sarawak chief minister, Tan Sri Adenan Satem and his wife, Puan Sri Jamilah Anu.

Apart from the party’s open house, SUPP president Senator Datuk Prof Dr Sim Kui Hian also held an open house at Kenyalang Park. In Sabah, the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Sabah Tun Juhar Mahiruddin and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman attended a Chinese New Year open house organised by Sandakan Barisan Nasional (BN) at Dewan Hakka and two other open houses hosted by Parti Bersatu Sabah Batu Sapi branch and Sabah Dong Zhong president. Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak attended a Chinese New Year open house hosted by Kota Belud Chinese Captain, Andy Chua in Kampung Tombol, Kota Belud and another open house hosted by local newspaper Daily Express held in Kota Kinabalu.

In Selangor, about one million devotees from all walks of life are expected to offer prayers at the Fo Guang Shan (FGS) Dong Zen Temple in Jenjarom, Banting from today until February 22.

Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) Malaysia Chapter committee member, HK Lim told Bernama that a visit to the Buddhist temple for the New Year has become a tradition for many locals and that several activities have been lined up for the festival today.

Lim said during the Lantern and Floral festival, the temple would be brightly lit with lanterns depicting the 72 different stances of the monkey, the animal zodiac for this year’s New Year and 5,000 different types of orchids in full bloom would be showcased. Dong Zen Temple, which houses the largest Buddha statue in Selangor on a 26-acre site in Jenjarom has become a tourist attraction besides being an important cultural and educational centre. Meanwhile, Selangor state executive councillor, Datuk Teng Chang Kim, said the state-level Chinese New Year open house would be held at Dataran Petaling Jaya on February 20. — Bernama