THE 2024 Miao Hui celebration will take place on Feb 18, 2024 on the ninth day of the Chinese lunar calendar at the heritage precinct of George Town from 4pm to 11pm.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow lauded the Penang Chinese Clan Council (PCCC) for hosting the event and the Penang Cultural Inheritors Society (Inheritors) for planning and coordinating the event since April this year.
Chow announced that the Miao Hui event will cover 12 streets within the George Town heritage area and will involve the participation of more than 20 ancestral halls, guild halls and temples, many of which are more than a century old.
“Apart from showcasing the customs or cultural practices we inherited from our forefathers, the public will also get to appreciate the stories behind the occupations or industries pioneered by them at the time when they first arrived in Penang.
“I think I have participated in the Miao Hui event for more than 20 years and yet, I still have a different feeling every year and I continue to learn from every annual participation.
“I look forward to the exciting temple fairs that all the volunteers, under the leadership of the clan council and Inheritors, will bring to us,” Chow said.
He added that Miao Hui, which has gone through 25 years of ups and downs since it was held in 1999, has become a well-known cultural brand.
He said the event aims to awaken interest in cultural heritage among the younger generation and garners strong support from the state government.
Chow shared the state government’s aim to develop the Miao Hui annual event into an internationally renowned brand. He mentioned that policies and strategies will be discussed to achieve this goal, building on the hard work of the organisers to make Miao Hui 2024 internationally recognised.
Organising chairman Leong Keng Fei expressed his gratitude for the trust placed in the Penang Chinese Clan Council and Penang Cultural Inheritors Society by the state government over the past 25 years.
“We have established over 40 exhibition teams to curate cultural aspects of each clan association, street, and stage.
“The theme of the 2024 Miao Hui is “Our Story” as we want to focus on collecting and presenting the precious cultural and industry history established by our ancestors in Penang. This is to help people understand how our Penang forebears paved the way in earlier times.
“The success of next year’s Miao Hui relies on the hard work of our volunteers, therefore, we also call upon the public to join the volunteer teams,” said Leong.
Miao Hui event master planner Chong Jian Mei expressed hopes that the theme “Our Story” will allow attendees an opportunity to turn back time and re-experience unforgettable and beautiful memories, so as to arouse a collective resonance.
He explained the extensive work undertaken by curators, including interviews with seniors, site visits, research, and workshops to create an engaging and meaningful experience for the public.
Chong also introduced ‘Chen Chen,’ a paper-cut dragon, as this year’s mascot. This symbol is not only in line with the zodiac sign for the Year of the Dragon but also serves as a tribute to the dedicated volunteers of Miao Hui.
Also present at the press conference were Chief Minister’s political secretary Lau Keng Ee, Penang Chinese Clan Council deputy chairman Ho Swee Choon, secretary Lim Choon Hwang, treasurer Ong Kuen Heng and committee members.
Others included the Penang Cultural Inheritors Society advisors Kwoh Shoo Chen and Choo Boon Chiang, and other team members.
Story by Norman Sim
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi
Video by Siti Nuratikah Rahmat