By Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
IPOH: A Chinese New Year celebration organised by the Lions Club of Perak Silver State and Ipoh City Watch has been described as an important platform for uniting Malaysians of diverse backgrounds while promoting greater environmental awareness.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), M. Kulasegaran, said the programme should serve as a model for other non-governmental organisations (NGOs), as it successfully brought together people of different races to celebrate cultural diversity in a harmonious setting.
He said the anti-littering and plastic waste awareness campaign highlighted during the programme carried an important message for the public.
“If rubbish is thrown into rivers, it eventually flows into the sea, causing serious consequences such as the death of marine life and affecting people’s sources of income,” he said, adding that he was pleased to collaborate in making the programme a success.
At the same event, Kulasegaran also contributed RM5,000 to the Persatuan Prihatin Bandaraya Ipoh (Ipoh City Watch) in support of the association’s ongoing welfare initiatives.
Region 5 chairman of the Lions Club of Perak Silver State and Ipoh City Watch president Dr Richard Ng was also present at the programme.
Kulasegaran further praised the Lion Dance performance and Loh Sang celebration, which involved participation not only from the Chinese community but also from the Indian community and other ethnic groups, reflecting the true spirit of Malaysian unity.
He said cultural practices such as open houses and shared festive celebrations, including Loh Sang, the giving of mandarin oranges and angpau, help non-Chinese communities better understand the values of prosperity and unity.
“Do not insult other races or religions. That is not our culture. Unity is the strength of this nation and must be preserved together,” he said.
