COMMUNITY spirit took centre stage at a Chinese New Year celebration in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, where residents gathered for performances, food and festive activities.
The event at Kampung Chempaka drew villagers, community leaders and elected representatives to enjoy a lion dance by the village troupe, lucky dips, ang pow distribution, a Zumba session for senior residents, a 15m-long loh sang, and ending with a fireworks display.
The programme also touched on cultural identity and heritage, with speakers urging residents to continue communication in their dialects and pass them on to the younger generation.
Village chief Theresa Lim was happy to see residents coming together in the spirit of reunion associated with Chinese New Year.
She also urged families to keep speaking their dialects at home.
“At home, you can speak to the children in Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese or Hakka.
“You must not let the next generation lose our dialects that carry thousands of years of history,” she said.
Damansara MP Gobind Singh Deo said unity remained important in a multiracial country like Malaysia.
“The Prime Minister often speaks about the need to ensure unity in our country,” the Digital Minister said.
“We must make sure that, as Malaysians, we understand that if our country is harmonious, where everyone can live together and work with one another, we can become a country admired around the world.
“People will see Malaysia as a developed country and one that still has the potential to progress further.”
Bandar Utama assemblyman Jamaliah Jamaluddin said Kampung Chempaka had, over the years, celebrated not only Chinese New Year but other cultural festivals as well.
“We also organised an event during Ponggal, even though there are not many Indian residents here,” she said.
“This is because we wanted to encourage the Malaysian spirit.”
The country’s multicultural make-up, she said, should be appreciated as strength.
“I hope in 2026 we can better understand other people’s cultures and truly be Malaysians as one family,” she said.
Jamaliah also urged eligible residents to apply for the Selangor health card scheme.
The scheme, she said, provided RM500 annual treatment allocation for low-income families and RM250 allocation for individuals.
Beneficiaries were entitled to RM10,000 hospitalisation subsidy for up to a year at government and private hospitals, she added. — By CY LEE
