CHIEF Minister Chow Kon Yeow was given a warm reception at Lebuh Mahsuri by the residents there as he continued with his Jelajah LovePENANG 2.0 programme in the Bayan Baru parliamentary constituency today.
In view of several festivals being celebrated this week and next week, the residents decided to display cultural acts to commemorate the presence of Chow and his entourage earlier.
These few days, the Indian community will be celebrating ‘Pongal’, a celebration to thank the Sun, Mother Nature and the various farm animals that help to contribute to a bountiful harvest.
A group of Indian residents was seen earlier participating in the event of boiling milk in a clay pot until it overflowed.
Also, there were Lion dance performances, live baking of the traditional ‘kuih kapit’ and a calligraphy writing booth.
Chow stopped by each station to learn about the demonstrations of the cultural activities, as well as to meet and greet the residents.
Also present was Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Zin, who was impressed by the unity among the people while displaying their cultural activities during Chow’s visit earlier.
“This is what we want to achieve, the unity among the people regardless of race, religion and political differences,” he said during his speech earlier at Lebuh Mahsuri in Bayan Baru today.
On another matter, Sim said he had spoken to the Penang police chief Comm Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain about the traffic congestion issue in Bayan Baru.
“I have requested for more police officers to be stationed at hotspots to control the traffic flow during peak hours.
“Good to hear that the police chief will look into this matter and consider my request,” he added.
Sim also requested the residents, especially those with more than one vehicle in each household, to consider using public transport to commute from one place to another.
Also present was southwest district officer Mohd Hafiz Aswad Nadzri.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Siew Chia En
Video by Alissala Thian