BY NATASHA JEE & SARAH HAFIZAH CHANDRA
KUCHING: Chinese all over the world are set to welcome the first day of the Lunar New Year, the Year of the Metal Ox, on Feb 12.
The Chinese New Year (CNY) celebration this year will be different due to the increasing Covid-19 cases. Many families will be celebrating it on a small scale.
Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian has advised Sarawakians not to hold any open houses or public gatherings to avoid the spread of the virus.
Sarawakians outside the state have also been strongly advised not to return home for CNY but to get connected with their families and friends through phone calls and social media.
Here is what the Chinese community here has to say about how CNY should be celebrated this year.
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JONATHAN CHAI VOON TOK (Sarawak Business Federation secretary-general)
I think we should scale down our CNY celebration. I do not really advise anyone to hold any open house. We do not seem to have any choice but to adopt the new norm under such extraordinary circumstances. I guess we all need to sacrifice a little bit and play our part in our quest to contain the virus.
MALCOLM LAU (Businessman)
The year’s CNY will definitely be different. Because of Covid-19, it is better for us to stay put at home and celebrate it with our family. We must not go visiting because we do not want to see any CNY Cluster. Also, big events to welcome the CNY should be cancelled or held online.
HO YII LANG (Fresh graduate)
We must celebrate this CNY in a safe way. Just stay at home and avoid any social events as the risk of getting exposed is high. Let’s look after the safety of everyone.
VOON YIH BOON (Private employee)
Let us be responsible Sarawakians and just stay at home this CNY. As people will be thronging supermarkets or shopping malls to prepare for the celebration, I hope all operators will impose stricter SOPs (standard operating procedures) to curb the spread of the virus.
SARAH CHANG (Entrepreneur)
This year’s CNY celebration will be a very quiet one. If we love our family and friends, we must stay home as much as we can and observe the SOPs. However, we can still dress our best and greet each other virtually.
