The day Malaysians welcomed the Year of the Rat
Thousands of Malaysians and tourists flocked to busy Jalan Bukit Bintang in
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who likened multi-racial Malaysians to the plate of Chinese-style raw fish salad mixed with a variety of sauces, which is traditionally served during the New Year festivities for good luck, hopes that the spirit among the country’s different races continues.
Abdullah says the event, which sees Malaysians coming together, is a reflection of what the country has become over the years. “We are a peace-loving community, and this is what makes us the best multi-racial country in the world,” he tells some 10,000 people who attended this year’s celebration.
The theme for this year’s open house is “Our Front, Our Heritage (Barisan Kita, Warisan Kita),” highlighting the concept of unity in the Chinese cultural heritage that sees the involvement and participation of the different races.
The main stage where the VIPs sat was brightly decorated with lanterns and plum blossom branches that were hung low, adding to the festive atmosphere.
A number of stages were also set up along Jalan Bukit Bintang where various traditional and contemporary performances were held, including lion dances, prancing dragons, Chinese opera, and a Golden Rat dance. The rich and thunderous sound of drums accompanied the lion dances.
The Prime Minister and his wife Jeanne Abdullah, the special guests to the event, enjoyed themselves at the festivities.
Badawi also led the traditional tossing of the yee sang salad, a mixture of luck-bringing food including mee hoon and fish, to usher in the Year of the Rat.
This year’s Chinese New Year, which fell on Feb. 7, was the start of a 15-day celebration throughout the Chinese communities all over
Many Chinese families hold open houses on the day of the Chinese New Year and several days after the feast. Relatives and friends, regardless of their race and religion, will be visiting each other, exchanging good wishes and gifts like tangerines and other traditional New Year delicacies.
Before the celebration, Tourism Malaysia hosted a Mega Fam Program Tourism Seminar at the Grand Millenium Hotel in conjunction with “Malaysia: My Second Home,” a program which enables people from all over the world who fulfill certain criteria to stay in Malaysia for as long as possible on a social visit pass. Kuala Lumpur Tourism Action Council general manager Noraza Yusof made the presentation.
In November 2007, tourist arrivals to
The success of the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 campaign has spurred interest among the state governments of Terengganu, Kelantan and Kedah to embark on a similar campaign this year.
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