New Year parties galore in Penang

GEORGE TOWN: New Year revellers can expect to celebrate in style here.

For RM500, you can join a countdown party at a luxury hotel, which is throwing in champagne, caviar and fresh oysters into the deal. A beach resort is throwing an outdoor rave party, sporting well-known DJs, and it is already fully booked by the resort’s 800 guests.

Another city hotel is planning a buffet dinner that will transform into a New Year dance party as the midnight hour draws near.

Almost every hotel interviewed has something planned for the occasion, while some of them have pulled out all the stops.

Shopping malls are not missing out on the action either.

Gurney Paragon Mall is entertaining New Year revellers with a live band performance at its Festive Square beginning 8pm on Saturday.

A mall spokesman said DJ Ramsey Westwood would fire up the countdown party.

“We expect an encouraging response at Gurney Paragon Mall from shoppers to usher in the New Year with us,” the spokesman said.

Nearby at Gurney Plaza, there will be a countdown party too, topped with carnival games at the plaza’s alfresco area.

Shoppers will get points to redeem tickets to take part in the games and win prizes, while live band Acidic Bunch and DJ Chan 6’1” will take the stage.

But criminologist Dr Shamsher Singh Thind called on revellers to remember the “ugly side of yesteryear celebrations”.

He reminded the public that in the past, New Year celebrations brought along a spate of public mischief incidents, drunk-driving and vandalism.

“Remember that before the pandemic, if you went out to celebrate, you might be caught in traffic jams until the wee hours and all sorts of incidents can happen on such a night.

“Do not misbehave publicly in a state of intoxication or you can be arrested for a variety of offences under the Penal Code,” he said.

It would be more meaningful if one were to stay at home and celebrate it moderately with their family members, he advised.