When an open house opens hearts

The Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya Selatan (PJS) Hee Loy Sian hosted a Chinese New Year 2012 open house by getting the residents from all walks of life to celebrate the festive occasion together in the spirit of togetherness and unity recently at the open car park in Jalan 17/29, Petaling Jaya.

The crowd of over 1,000 people of all races were in festive cheer as they helped themselves to spreads of yong tau foo, chicken rice, fried noodles and other treats while being entertained by a dragon dance and acrobatic lion dance as well as musical and dance performances by school children.

In wishing all present a Happy Chinese New Year, Hee said in his welcome speech: “This function is not only to celebrate Chinese New Year, the important thing is to send a clear message to the voters who are residents here that for this Chinese New Year of the Dragon, there need to be some changes in Malaysia.”

Hee, who is Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) PJS chief spoke briefly on the wealth and social benefits outlined in Buku Jingga, the reform plans of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition should it form the federal government in the forthcoming general election.

VIP guest of honour at the event was Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

Among the guests present were Deputy Speaker of the Selangor State Assembly Haniza Binti Mohamed Talha, Selangor state exco for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Entrepreneurial Development Dr. Yaakob Sapari, PKR vice-president Tian Chua, Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo-Burne, Rawang state assemblywoman Gan Pei Nei and PKR PJS deputy chief Ahmad Akhir.

Others present included MPSJ councillor Rajiv A/L Rishyakaran, MBPJ councillor Cynthia Manonmani A/P Michael Gabriel and community leaders.

The children were excited to receive ang-pow from the hosts. Ang pow-giving is a customary practice during Chinese New Year and is a symbol of goodwill to bless the receiver with health and good fortune.

The senior citizens were not forgotten as they also received  ang pow and goody bags containing grocery items.

Abdul Khalid wished the Chinese community a Happy Chinese New Year in Mandarin and the guests appreciated it.

He said: “Ni Hau Ma? Xin Nian Kuai Le. Xin Nian Hao. Xin Nian Kuai Le. Gong Xi Fa
Cai.”  Translated, meaning “How are you? Wishing you a happy new year, a good new year and a prosperous new year”.

In his CNY message, Abdul Khalid  said he understood that the Year of the Dragon is the year of change.

“You have voted for change in 2008 and Selangor have changed! We have shown in
Selangor that we can administer the state better than Barisan Nasional. That is clear.

“We give free water [20 cubic metres monthly] and we give welfare assistance. We have spent more than RM500 million for the people and although we have spent RM500 million, the state’s cash reserves have not reduced.

“Before we took over [from BN], there was only RM400 million cash reserves, but today [at year-end 2011 closing] it had ballooned to RM1.9 billion. This the BN can’t do it,“ he said to loud approval from the audience.

“We must try to bring changes because this country is resource-rich, not poor, but the rakyat did not gain much from it, that’s why I hope we can work together. In the Dragon year, in order for us to win, we must work hard.

“Naga bukan kasi kita duduk diam-diam, Naga sangat kuat dan ganas, dia mesti buat kerja [The dragon is not for us to sit idle. It is strong and fierce and works a lot of the
time].”

On the lease-hold title extension to 99 years, Abdul Khalid advised the residents with expiring lease not to miss the golden opportunity to apply for lease renewal and extension at a low cost of  RM 1,000 premium.

It was reported that, in the past, many families could not afford to pay the high premium to extend their expiring leases because they need to fork out a huge sum in tens of thousands of ringgit for lease extension based on the market rate.

“The state government does not want the money. The state government wants the rakyat to get the house’s lease extended for 99 years, make home improvements to the house, the value goes up and the rakyat becomes happy. That’s our aim, not to make money. If we want to make money we can use the market rate [to calculate the premium] but we don’t do it because we want all the rakyat in Selangor state to be given the chance to own a home, with the land titles that belong to them.”

Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) councillor Rajiv A/L Rishyakaran who represented ADUN Subang Jaya Hannah Yeoh at the function said: “The crowd is very good. I wish all the Chinese community here a Happy Chinese New Year and I hope the crowd comprising the young and old from different ethnic, faiths and backgrounds have fun watching all the performances.”