A festival beyond religion

There’s something special about Chinese New Year. Unlike most other major festivals in the country, it is one that transcends religion, which is something the country needs.

THE beginning of the year is always a great time in Malaysia. There was the New Year, Tamils in the country just celebrated Ponggal and now Chinese New Year is upon us. Thaipusam is around the corner, after which Ramadan will start, culminating in Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

For me, though, there’s something really special about Ponggal and Chinese New Year. These two festivals, you see, transcend religion, which can often be a divisive thing.

Ponggal, the harvest festival in Tamil Nadu, is celebrated by all faiths to honour the farming community.

Even in Malaysia, there are churches that celebrate Ponggal at their premises, although there are still those who stay away because they believe it is a Hindu thing.

But there is no such question about Chinese New Year. It is indeed embraced by all Chinese as their new year, regardless of their faith.

Muslim friends who are married into Chinese families happily celebrate with the family, although both husband and wife are now Muslim.

The Chinese families, too, understand sensitivities and keep the food halal for the Muslims. The non-Muslims do enjoy their pork and alcohol, but they do it elsewhere.

Festivals like Chinese New Year, where religion takes a backseat, can be a time of healing, a time when we forget our differences and celebrate common roots.

There are several things all races in the country have adopted from the Chinese – and chief among them are ang pow and firecrackers. These used to be a Chinese New Year thing but are now seen in all celebrations.

This year, there have been some big ang pow, thanks to the 4D outlets. Even before Chinese New Year, the scent of big money was in the air everywhere in Malaysia.

Hundreds of thousands of gamblers – both from Malaysia and outside – stood in lines that snaked outside 4D outlets throughout the country. Their intention? To grab a slice of a whopping RM120mil prize.

Well, at least four of the punters did become millionaires and it will be a prosperous new year for them. But the four were not the only winners.

There were others. The 4D operators were obvious winners; they must have raked in tons of money over the past few weeks as the prize money was rising.

But another big winner was Kuan Chee Heng, better known as Good Samaritan Uncle Kentang, who had cheekily asked for an ambulance each from the big lottery winners.

He got two vehicles, each worth RM300,000, but apparently not from the winners. It was probably the most heartwarming story of the week.

Kuan, a Chinese-Malaysian who helps the needy regardless of race or religion, got his moniker because he would distribute potatoes to the poor.

Among his many charitable works are his RM1 hostel accommodation for those travelling from outside to Kuala Lumpur for medical treatment, and his RM1 hearse service.

It’s somehow fitting that ambulances should be a gift for the Year of the Snake. After all, the most popular symbol of medicine is the staff of Asclepius, a stick with a snake coiled around it.

The snake is associated with the circle of life, eternal youth and healing power.

Healing is something the country really needs after all the hate-mongering that has been going around.

Even a chicken ham sandwich and expired halal certificates belonging to a firm that had been taken over by another is now national news. And many are seeing red, not least the shop at which said sandwich was sold – it was splashed with red paint.

Even the Prime Minister, who was in London recently, talked about tolerance and how he himself would eat at a “halal” Chinese restaurant. He described as “sickening” many Malaysians’ penchant for racism and religious bigotry.

It is the truth. Racism and religious bigotry are running rampant in the country. We have universities purportedly forcing students to attend religious classes with the likely intent to convert them.

Universities exist to educate our children, not to indoctrinate them into a new religion.

What’s worse, the university is said to be converting the students without informing their parents. This has to stop.

A civil servant nabbed for graft has also inadvertently unveiled the danger. He was collecting money from the state government for the newly-converted, but he was making false claims.

But the question is: Are people being paid to convert? It would be an insult to any religion to have to pay to create more followers. Faith is personal and deeply embedded, not something to be bought.

Outgoing Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat has made it clear that religion should never be used to perpetrate injustice.

“When we speak about Islam, it is all about justice. It (the religion) does not teach us to look at the colour or the religion of someone. Social justice is paramount in Islam,” she said.

She cited the case of M. Indira Gandhi whose child was abducted by her convert ex-husband.

Despite many court rulings, the police have yet to find the ex-husband or return the child to the mother.

Tengku Maimun said there was no basis or justification in Islam, as she understood it, to deprive a child of her mother or a mother of her child. I salute the lady for her stand.

Religion should not be used to break up families. And that’s another reason why Chinese New Year is special. Unfailingly, families get together on New Year’s Eve for reunion dinners.

It’s a time-honoured tradition that has to be admired. Children religiously come home from wherever they are to join the family in that dinner, despite the crazy jams on Malaysian highways.

This year, they are likely to be stuck in jams for hours without even the consolation of a toll-free ride. But the dinner should be worth it.

I wish the families an enjoyable time together, no matter their religion. Gong Xi Fa Cai or, as they say in Penang, Keong Hee Huat Choy to all Chinese, and their extended families.