Senior Melaka cop more appreciative of CNY celebration, made friends too

ACP Afzanizar (in red shirt) and his deputy Melaka Tengah deputy OCPD Supt Raiz Mukhliz Azman Aziz being briefed by temple chairman Hau Han Lee.

MELAKA: A senior police officer has become more appreciative of how the Chinese New Year is celebrated this year.

Melaka Tengah OCPD Asst Comm Afzanizar Ahmad said in his line of duty, this is the first time he is experiencing the actual atmosphere of the Lunar New Year.

"Previously, I used to attend open houses during festive seasons but this time, I got an insight of how CNY is celebrated and also had the opportunity to make new friends," he said after visiting Cheng Wah Keong Taoist Temple at Kandang here on Friday (Feb 12).

The visit was to check on the compliance of CNY's standard operating procedures during the movement control order.

Melaka Tengah deputy OCPD Supt Raiz Mukhliz Azman Aziz was also present.

ACP Afzanizar said he had an opportunity to wish the devotees, too.

"I am proud of being given a chance to witness personally the multicultural aspect of my fellow Malaysians," he said.

ACP Afzanizar said he was briefed by the temple's chairman Hau Han Lee.

"The temple's chairman told me that 500 devotees used to perform CNY prayers in previous years but the figure dropped this year due to the ongoing MCO," he said.

ACP Afzanizar said it's a must for devotees from all over Melaka to visit the temple on the first day of CNY.

"Only devotees living nearby areas paid homage due to the MCO," he said.

ACP Afzanizar added that he had the opportunity to brief the temple's committee members on the cases of break-ins into places of worship, especially targeting donation boxes.