Rais happy with attendance at CNY open house

The crowd at the national-level Chinese New Year gathering at Pandamaran, Klang, gamely listening to speeches even as the rain poured down on Feb 20.

Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim praised the Chinese community in Pandamaran for their willingness to attend the national-level Chinese New Year celebration at Jalan Chan Ah Choon.

He noted that attendance was good despite “attempts by some quarters” to prevent them from coming.

He said the Chinese community came to the function to welcome Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and other leaders of the Barisan Nasional component parties.

“Before this, some say there won’t be people coming here because there is another function held at the same time,” he said.

Rais expressed delight that the residents of Pandamaran came despite the heavy rain.

“Sorry that you have to stand to listen to the prime minister’s speech. According to earlier plans, the prime minister will sit with the people on the right and the performances to be held on the stage.

“But because of the rain, we cannot have it that way,” he added.

Meanwhile, MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said last night’s celebration fell on the seventh day of the Chinese New Year which was a special day as it was regarded as the birthday of all humankind.

“We should be proud to be born on this land because of the opportunity to celebrate all the celebrations in the country in a Malaysian spirit,” he added


comments

Wow, have to ampu the PM is it? Since when the PM is interested in rakyat's plight?

By the way, who is the host of this CNY celeb? Sounds like the Chicken Rice man is the host by the way he commented. Attendance was good? The other function nearby had much higher attendance of about 20,000 whereas only about 5,000 went to collect Ang Pows from Pinklips Jibby and BFM and his cohorts of leeches and parasites!

Rais. People came for the food lah and to see who the VIPs were, NOT necessarily supporting your "ideals". Everyone knowing very well BN always can afford good free food!


Syok sendiri. I was there and have to admit that the crowd was quite big , about 4-5K and majority of the crowd was Chinese. I spoke to an elderly man and he told me most of the visitors were Pandamaran folks, he recognized them because he has been living there for all his life. When this celebration was held in Pandamaran, literally at their doorstep, there was no reason for the local folks not to visit since there were still on Chinese New Year mood and it was held on a Saturday night.

The size of the Chinese crowd at that function does not mean they have started supporting BN. Pakatan Selangor state Chinese New Year celebraton was also held at the same time and i heard even more visitors joined the celebration. It shouldn't have been like that because Pandamaran is located in Klang ( big population ) whereas Pakatan's celebration was held in Jenjarom a small town with much smaller population. This means many outsider took the effort to visit Pakatan's function rather than MCA's function.