Festive cheer: Children watching attentively as a clown makes balloon sculptures. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: The mood was joyful while revellers embraced the muhibbah spirit as they came together to join in the activities at the Esplanade during the Penang state-level Christmas celebration.
Many explored the Christmas market to shop for gifts, with the atmosphere enlivened by 30 vendors selling festive souvenirs ranging from handicrafts to home-made cookies.
One of them was artist Chong Yee Wang, who offered small wood paintings depicting snowmen, Santa Claus and other holiday motifs.
“Christmas is the most joyful season of the year and I hope my works help spread cheer to all,” he said.
As grown-ups browsed, children entertained themselves by making giant soap bubbles, with a clown also present to hand out balloon sculptures.
Among the visitors was Yap Yoo Yee, with his wife, mother-in-law and three kids in tow to soak up the atmosphere and spend quality time together.
“It’s good to have a family outing. During the pandemic, we missed going to such events,” said Yap, a retiree.
Others just followed their noses to the food truck area, where some 20 different treats from fried chicken, pizza, burgers, snacks, bubble tea and ice cream were offered.
The celebration, themed Light of the World, also featured a series of festive music and dance numbers at the main stage.
The performers included the Rose Charities Senior Citizens Music Ensemble, Joyful Noise, City Rock Dancers, Studio Pentas, DOA Service Centre, Emmaus Tamil Baptist Church, Rivers of Water Church, Bukit Mertajam Baptist Church, Church of the Immaculate Conception, Trinity Methodist Church and The Chosen Ones.
In between was a handover of a contribution worth RM40,000 from private sector sponsors to be shared among 10 charity homes in Penang.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and state social development and non-Islamic religious affairs committee chairman Chong Eng, who were in attendance at the handover ceremony, joined leaders of various religious organisations in lighting up a Christmas tree and accompanying decorations at the Speakers’ Square.
Unlike regular Christmas trees, the “ornaments” here are cutouts of the state’s diverse people and landmarks – including Komtar, the Penang Bridge, ferries and heritage shophouses.
Chow expressed delight that the annual celebration was able to resume after the pandemic-induced hiatus and described the theme as a representation of hope, joy and success lighting the way forward.
“Christmas is a wonderful season for us to reflect on what we have done throughout the year. It is also a time for gathering and appreciating one another, regardless of cultural background.
“This wonderful occasion reflects the true spirit of Christmas and shows that Penang is a state which celebrates and is united in diversity,” he said in his speech.
The event was organised by the Penang Harmony Corporation (Harmonico), the state government’s implementing agency for non-Islamic religious matters, in collaboration with the Christian Federation Malaysia (CFM), who was represented by CFM’s Penang liaison committee chairman Rev Ronald Yap Quan Nyian.
Chow later announced that Harmonico’s allocation next year would be increased to RM1.3mil, up from the RM1.1mil which funded 20 successful multireligious programmes this year.
Chong said it was time to acknowledge and celebrate our differences and cherish it as our pillar of strength.
“Celebrations like this open our minds and hearts to be more receptive towards other cultures and thus strengthens social harmony,” she said.
