THE Hari Keluarga (Family Day) celebration at the basketball court in Karpal Singh Drive, Sungai Pinang, was a lively affair today, bringing together many young and old to participate in a diverse range of activities.
With the theme ‘Saya Anak Sungai Pinang (I am a Child of Sungai Pinang),’ the event kicked off with a Zumba performance, followed by two beautiful dance performances by different groups of young girls.
Other activities included a bak chang (rice dumpling) wrapping competition, the ‘Best Chicken Rice in Sungai Pinang’ cooking competition (for women only), ‘Papa Sew, Mama Saw and I Share’ competition, games, Chinese painting, and sales of handicrafts.
Among those who attended the event were Sungai Pinang assemblyman Lim Siew Khim, the state executive councillor for Social Development, Welfare and non-Islamic Religious Affairs; Jelutong MP R.S.N. Rayer, Jelutong parliamentary penghulu Asri Ahmad and Mohd Zailani Othman, northeast district penghulu.
While Mother’s Day is observed in May and Father’s Day in June, Lim said parents are most important every day because, without them, we would not be here.
“The primary purpose of today’s event is to foster family harmony and love for parents. We encourage activities that make people in Penang happy and safe,” Lim said during her speech.
She emphasised that the event aligned with the Penang2030 vision, highlighting the Family-focused aspect as an important basic unit in the community, district, state and country.
She thanked several parties that made the event a success, including MPKK (Village Community Management Council) Sungai Pinang, Sungai Pinang Women and Family Development Committee (Sungai Pinang JPWK), Relanita, CDERT, Sungai Pinang Youth (JBPP), the Jelutong parliamentary service centre among others.
Rayer, too, expressed his gratitude to the various groups for their close collaboration and praised Lim and her service centre team for their unwavering commitment to organising programmes for Sungai Pinang despite their hectic schedules.
Impressed with the overall organisation, Rayer donated a cheque for RM10,000 to MPKK Bandar Baru Jelutong secretary Yeap Poh Looi as a contribution from his parliamentary allocation to the event.
“We have participants from various races and cultures, hence the Malaysian unity spirit is very important. We must remember that unity is the most precious commodity in this country,” he said during his speech.
Lim and Rayer also presented certificates of appreciation to the four judges: Ong Beng Yew, founder of Asiapro Chef Culinary School and treasurer of Penang Chef Association; Aleex Quah, founder of Foodicious Food and Beverage Expo; Azri Othman, a famous chicken rice seller in Jelutong; and Tan Poh Hong, an enthusiast of delicious food.
They had a hard time deciding the winners. Eventually, Vivian Loh, Nurul Aisyah and Khoo Mooi Khim were adjudged the top three winners, earning RM1,000, RM800 and RM500 respectively.
A resident, Khaw Chong Bin, 71, said he took the opportunity to watch how a pair of contestants, Ramadas Sinnasamy, 63, and his wife, Umadevi Gagnathan, 60, cooked Gongura Chicken rice.
“I watched them from the start and learned how they cooked it. You can smell its wonderful fragrance. I want to get my hands on it,” said Khaw, a retired ship foreman.
Ramadas explained that it was the first time they were cooking Gongura Chicken rice after watching it on YouTube.
“We ground sorrel leaf and mix the herb with the gravy. We want to offer hearty and nutritious food for the people,” said Ramadas, who together with his wife, took part in a Healthy Community Empowers the Nation (Kospen) programme recently.
In the ‘Papa Sew, Mama Saw and I Share’ (Family) competition, Yeap Yew Xun came first, followed by Koek Ming Kai and Ginny Thoe Zhi Ning. Each of them received RM150 vouchers.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Alissala Thian
