BY TANIA LAM & NATASHA JEE
KUCHING: This year’s Chinese New Year (CNY) celebration will be rather a quiet one due to Covid-19 pandemic.
People are restricted from holding large-scale gatherings and visiting each other.
These standard operating procedures (SOPs) and measures are put in place as a united effort to curb the spread of the virus.
Despite not being able to go for house-to-house visits this year, in Sarawak, the tradition of exchanging wishes among the multiracial society still continues.
With adaptation to the new norm, most of this would involve sending CNY greetings through the various social media platforms.
Here are some Chinese and bumiputera state leaders who wish Sarawakians a happy, prosperous and safe CNY.
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MINISTER OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOUSING, DATUK SERI DR SIM KUI HIAN
This pandemic has taught us to cherish our family and everything we have. No matter what the challenges are, be strong, courageous, positive, and work together to bring to end the pandemic.
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BATU KITANG ASSEMBLYMAN, LO KHERE CHIANG
May the year of the Ox bring us good tidings and may Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) bring Sarawak to greater heights in all fields of commerce and industry.
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PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) WOMEN CHIEF, DATUK CHIEW YEN CHEW
I hope that all Malaysians will continue to stay positive and surround yourselves with their families as they welcome the CNY with love.
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PARTI RAKYAT SARAWAK (PRS) WOMEN CHIEF, DATUK SERI DORIS SOPHIA BRODIE
I wish all my Chinese relatives and friends a very happy, prosperous, and healthy Lunar New Year. May the Year of the Ox impact us positively in the face of this pandemic.
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SEREMBU ASSEMBLYMAN, MIRO SIMUH
My sincere wishes and happy CNY to the Chinese and friends, and my prayers are that everyone of continues to live in harmony.
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TASIK BIRU ASSEMBLYMAN, DATUK HENRY HARRY JINEP
Wishing each and everyone Gong Xi Fa Cai. This year’s CNY celebrated amid the new norm should not be any less joyous and meaningful than the ones before.
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ASSISTANT MINISTER IN THE CHIEF MINISTER’S DEPARTMENT (ISLAMIC AFFAIRS AND DBKU), DATUK DR ABDUL RAHMAN JUNAIDI
There is no denying the great cultural, social and economic contributions of the Chinese to Sarawak. Thus, happy Chinese New Year!
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SARAWAK UNITED PEOPLE’S PARTY (SUPP) SECRETARY-GENERAL, DATUK SEBASTIAN TING CHIEW YEW
While we celebrate, we must not forget our frontliners who have been working hard the whole of last year and sacrificed a lot to curb the pandemic. They are truly the heroes of Sarawak.
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REPOK ASSEMBLYMAN, DATUK SERI HUANG TIONG SII
Although we will celebrate CNY this year in a modest and quiet way, the spirit of CNY is the same. Let 2021 be a year for us to stay united and take good care of ourselves.
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SARAWAK UNITED PEOPLE’S PARTY (SUPP), WOMEN CHIEF KHO TECK WAN
For Sarawakians who can’t come home or choose to stay where you are, thank you for your sacrifices. Let’s all observe the CNY SOPs and have a safe, healthy, and happy CNY.
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SARAWAK UNITED PEOPLE’S PARTY (SUPP) YOUTH CHIEF, MICHAEL TIANG
I wish all my fellow Sarawakians a very blessed and healthy Lunar New Year. I hope all Sarawakians will continue to be strong and tough while we fight this Covid-19 pandemic.
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SARAWAK UNITED PEOPLE’S PARTY (SUPP) KUCHING BRANCH YOUTH ASSISTANT PUBLICITY, CHIEF ERIC TAY
After a year full of challenges, we all wish that this year is a fresh start and less chaotic than last year. No doubt, this CNY will be a very different one.
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JULAU MP, LARRY SNG
I wish all Sarawakians a prosperous and healthy year of the Metal Ox. With the vaccine on the way, I believe we can usher in the new year with a brighter outlook in every field.
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PENDING ASSEMBLYWOMAN, VIOLET YONG
Though this Chinese New Year is celebrated without any visiting, lion dances, and/or big events and gatherings, they are for the good of everyone amid this Covid-19 pandemic.
