KUALA LUMPUR: With the Covid-19 pandemic gradually coming under control, the annual Malaysian Chinese Cultural Festival will finally make a comeback this year, after two years of hiatus due to the pandemic, said Tan Sri T.C Goh, President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong).
He thus announced that, with the support and cooperation of its three member associations namely the Negeri Sembilan Chinese Assembly Hall, Penang Chinese Assembly Hall, and Melaka Chinese Assembly Hall, Huazong has lined up key events to mark the recommence of the said Festival, which is in its 37th year, as follows:
1. The flag raising ceremony to mark the hosting of the 37th Malaysian Chinese Cultural Festival, will be held at the Penang Chinese Assembly Hall, on 20 March, 2022 (Sunday), at 10am.
2. The torch lighting ceremony for the 37th Malaysian Chinese Cultural Festival, to be held at Bukit Cina, on 8 May, 2022 (Sunday), at 9am.
3. The opening ceremony for the 37th Malaysian Chinese Cultural Festival will be held on 16 September, 2022 (Friday), to be followed by a grand procession, on 17 September (Saturday), and followed by the closing ceremony on 18 September (Sunday), all in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.
Goh hoped the said Festival would be smoothly organized by complying with the standard operating procedures (SOP) issued by the government.
Goh who is also President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) expressed this while officiating at the launching of Huazong’s cultural programme themed “Huazong. Holdfast. Inherit”, at Tan Sri Koo Yuen Kim Auditorium, in Wisma Huazong here, on Saturday.
Also in attendance were, Huazong deputy president, Datuk Ong Seng Khek, vice presidents Dato’ Lam Kuang Yau, Wong Keng Tong, who is also President of the Negeri Sembilan Chinese Assembly Hall, *his deputy Teo Kim Seong* , who is also the Organising Chairman for the 37th Malaysian Chinese Cultural Festival, Jason Tiu, President of Melaka Chinese Assembly Hall, Huazong Secretary-general Datuk Dr. Wong Aik Loung, women chief Datuk Natalie Lim Chong Ly, among others.
Goh said with Malaysia now gradually transitioned to endemic phase, the government recently announced reopening of the country on 1 April, 2022, and students too will be allowed to return to schools, while major religious events were recently allowed to proceed, Parliament sitting was conducted as scheduled, and the Johor state election was successfully held, Huazong was thus hopeful that the 37th Malaysian Chinese Cultural Festival too could be hosted this year.
He explained that, due to the onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing movement control orders (MCO) in the past two years, Huazong has no choice but to postpone the 37th Malaysian Chinese Cultural Festival which was supposed to be held in in Negeri Sembilan, in September 2020.
He continued that, to make the coming Festival a memorable one, Huazong in collaboration with the host, the Negeri Sembilan Chinese Assembly Hall, and the support from the various Chinese assembly halls, would be producing a special video documentary featuring the unique Malaysian Chinese culture. This video documentary will then be uploaded to the official Facebook page of Huazong and the various Chinese assembly halls, in phases, to better promote Malaysian Chinese culture throughout the nation and worldwide.
He further noted that the annual Malaysian Chinese Cultural Festival is a key cultural event of Huazong and the various Chinese assembly halls, which aims chiefly to preserve and better promote the unique Malaysian Chinese culture and history.
He also hoped both the Federal and state governments could provide the necessary support and cooperation, including allocation of government grants, to help ease the financial burden of the organizer, for hosting the Festival.
He also thanked Wong Keng Tong, President of the Negeri Sembilan Chinese Assembly Hall and his team, for their dedication and hard work, in the past two years, in preparing for the hosting of the Festival.
Meanwhile, in his speech, Wong disclosed that the hosting of the Festival was estimated to cost around RM1.5 million. He thus appealed for sponsorship from various quarters, so as to ease the financial burden of the organizer.
