Monday February 12, 2007
A CNY event for all races
IT MAY have been a Chinese New Year event with the theme “Angpau with Love’’, but the main guests were definitely not Chinese.
In fact, almost all of the 70 invited children were Malays and Indians, save for one or two Chinese.
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Festive gift: Lee (second from right) handing out the goodie bags to the children.
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And, that was the prime intention of the event’s organising committee who wanted it to be a multi-cultural affair, as integration of culture where different races come together to share the festive joy with one another was the motive.
Organised by MCA Wanita Kelana Jaya, in collaboration with the service centre of Subang Jaya assemblyman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng, the event, held for the third time, was at the Summit Shopping Complex in USJ.
The children were from Ractar (an all-girls home) and also Compassion Home, both of which are located in Subang Jaya.
MCA Kelana Jaya Wanita chief Ong Chong Swen said the objective of bringing children from different races to the event was to enable them to appreciate the Chinese celebration.
“When they grow up, we hope they would become a more tolerant society. These children are our future leaders, so who knows what they will become one day?”
“In fact, this is the third consecutive time this event has been organised, so many of the children are familiar to us and we treat them like our own,” said Ong.
Lee said it was important to not forget friends from other races in times of festive celebrations.
“That’s why you can see that our guests, the children, are mainly not from the Chinese community.”
Each of the children received red packets, mandarin oranges, and goodie bags with a McDonald’s meal voucher and stationery inside.
“Yes, we want to cheer the children up, yet it’s not just about giving money and gifts.
“It’s about sharing with them our time and compassion, which are things they will remember and which money can’t buy,” said Ong.
Later, the MCA Wanita Kelana Jaya choir group belted out three Mandarin numbers on stage, followed by performances by a string of local singers.
The Summit Shopping Complex is having its Chinese New Year celebration until Feb 17, where shoppers who spend RM50 and above in a single receipt at selected outlets will be entitled to the “wheel of fortune’’.
Some RM500,000 worth of prizes are up for grabs.
