PENANG: It was a sight to behold when more than 3,000 members of Chinese town halls throughout the country took part in a cultural procession held in conjunction with the 24th Malaysian Cultural Festival. The 4km procession yesterday, which started at Padang Brown and ended in front of the Penang Chinese Town Hall in Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, took the participants through Datuk Keramat Road, Penang Road, Transfer Road, Sri Bahari Road and Chulia Street. Accompanying the participants, who were in foot, were two floats, two brass bands, a Chinese orchestra as well as Chingay, lion and dragon dance troupes which performed along the way. Penang Wanita MCA chief Ooi Siew Kim led a group of women participants wearing traditional Chinese costumes. Local and tourists lined the streets to watch the procession. In his speech, Federation of Chinese Association of Malaysia president Tan Sri Lim Giat Tong said it was important for the Chinese community to cherish their culture and tradtion. “We have celebrated the 24th Malaysian Cultural Festival for six months since April. We really hope this will inspire the younger generation to pass on our tradition to future generations,” he said. There was 24-season drum performance and Mei Hua Zhung (lion dance on stilts) in front of the Penang Chinese town hall before the festival was closed by Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

Source: Extracts from The Star Newspaper, StarMetro, Monday, 22 October 2007.