SOME 200 members from the Eurasian community turned up for the Feast of Assumption and joined a procession from Fort Cornwallis to the Church of Assumption in Farquhar Street to mark the centennial celebration of the Penang Eurasian Association ( PEA).
The event also celebrated the 233 years since Captain Francis Light landed at Fort Cornwallis in 1786.
The about 1km walk was attended by the group of Eurasians, who made up about 2,000 of estimated 1.7 million population in the state.
The walk, which started from the historical site to the church, was attended by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow along with state Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo and the latter’s family at about 6.45pm.
At the church, a prayer session to mark the ceremony was held at the compound.
Organising chairman Datuk Aloysius Gasper told reporters that there would be series of events lining up till the end of this year to mark the association’s 100th anniversary.
He also praised the state government for caring for the minority Eurasian community.
“This could be seen with the presence of Chow and Jagdeep to join the walk despite their hectic schedule.
“We sincerely appreciate their efforts,” he said.
Also present were Archbishop Joseph Salvador Marino, the apostolic nuncio and ambassador of the Vatican to Malaysia and Penang Catholic Diocese Bishop Rev Datuk Sebastian Francis.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi
Video by Darwina Mohd Daud