MELAKA: Celebrating Chinese New Year during Ramadan shows Melaka’s culture of unity and mutual respect, said the state’s Chief Minister.
Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said the event showed mutual respect by scheduling all programmes after Tarawih prayers.
“The Melaka Family concept, introduced by the state government, has strengthened the foundation of unity long built in this state,” he said after attending the celebration at Dataran Klebang here on Tuesday night (March 3).
More than 3,000 people attended. The event featured traditional performances, including a lion dance.
Ab Rauf said this year’s celebration adopted the Melaka Sayang Rakyat (MeSRa) concept.
He said that last year the state government introduced kiosks and stalls during the celebration, and this year the event features a complimentary buffet with a variety of traditional Lunar New Year dishes.
“For me, Lunar New Year is a time for us to sit at the same table, share food and, most importantly, be together,” he said.
“Through gatherings like this, we build trust and strengthen bonds of friendship despite differences in race and religion,” he said.
Ab Rauf added that the MeSRa initiative ensures that the people feel the state government’s presence and support in their lives.
He said the state government has allocated RM78.67mil for welfare initiatives this year, up from RM76.96mil last year and RM66.07mil in 2024.
Meanwhile, Klebang assemblyman Datuk Lim Ban Hong said the celebration coincided with Chap Goh Mei.
“Food was served from buka puasa (the breaking of fast) and continued until moreh (late night supper or feast typically after Tarawih),” he said.
Lim said the celebration also included a mass buka puasa at Dataran Klebang.
