Street beautified with 18,000 lanterns for CNY

Lim (in pink shirt) releasing balloons during the ceremony to light up Chinese New Year lanterns at Jalan Raja Uda in Butterworth, Penang.

A DOWNPOUR did not deter the crowd during the ceremony to light up lanterns along Jalan Raja Uda in Butterworth to mark the coming Chinese New Year.

A total of 18,000 lanterns put up along the entire 3.5km stretch have covered the road with a canopy of red lights.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who is also Bagan MP, switched on the lights on Thursday night to the delight of a large crowd.

The event also featured various performances to keep the crowd happy.

Also present were state exco members Lim Hock Seng and Chong Eng, Bagan Dalam assemblyman A. Tanasekharan, Seberang Prai Municipal Council president Datuk Maimunah Mohd Sharif, council secretary Rozali Mohamud and several municipal councillors.

The main sponsors of the lanterns were Nikaco Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Chin Poh Chye and Tah Wah Group managing director Datuk Hong Yeam Wah. The lanterns will be switched on from 7pm to 7am daily until Chap Goh Meh.