Chinese New Year is the most important festival for the Chinese community to welcome the New Year in the Chinese lunar calendar. Chinese New Year symbolizes the starting point in the fortunes and lives according to their beliefs.
Before the New Year begins, relatives far away will return and gather in their homes. The house will be cleaned and all debts will be collected or paid so that they do not always surrounded by new debt during the year.
Usually firecrackers will be burned at midnight to mark the start of a new year and to dispel ghosts and bad luck. The houses are decorated with flowers and lemon and orange trees as a symbol of sustenance.
2015 is the year of Sheep. Some people say 2015 is a Green Goat or Wooden Goat year. According to the Chinese believe it was likely to be more calm, harmonious and peaceful.
This year, there will be more people who want to compromise, life by eliminating all disputes and strive to always give priority to the deliberation to reach consensus from continuing conflict with each other.
We hope that this year all disputes between racial and religious harmony can be resolved with respect for the beliefs and their respective cultures in order to avoid things that could damage the relationship between race and religion in our country.
As usual, the Chinese New Year, we will see ‘balik kampung’ culture among the Chinese community living abroad. When rural residents who work in urban areas, as well as studying and working overseas from around the world return to their hometown to dine with relatives on New Year’s Eve. Make sure before ‘balik kampung’ safety comes first and be careful driving on the roads may safely reach their destinations.
Sarawak PAS wishes Happy New Year to all the Chinese community in this country so that in the New Year, Malaysians can live in harmony and mutual respect each other regardless of race, religion and political affiliation.
Jofri Jaraiee
PAS Sarawak Deputy Commissioner III cum PAS Miri Chief
