Mark 50 years of Malaysia-China anniversary in big way: MP
Published on: Tuesday, January 30, 2024
By: Hayati Dzulkifli
Chan, Dr Huang and Susan in a group photo with the young winners of the colouring contest. Also present were officials and guests.
Kota Kinabalu: Chinese associations here are urged to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Malaysia in a big way.
The Federal Deputy Minister of Plantation and Commodities, Datuk Chan Foong Hin, suggested putting up billboards, signages or banners to celebrate the half a century long relationship.
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“Firstly, China has become our biggest trading partners for 14 consecutive years. Secondly, a substantial number of Malaysians can speak in Chinese.
“Thirdly, if you refer to the visa waiver policy which started last year, Chinese tourists’ arrival to Malaysia had surged to about 35 per cent in just one month.
“Thus, it is important for us to make use of this opportunity and celebrate the anniversary of the Malaysia-China relationship,” he said.
Chan, who is also Kota Kinabalu MP, said this after officiating the Cultural Village Exhibition that displayed 15 Chinese communities associations and colouring competition which were part of the Lion, Dragon and Unicorn Dances Festival 2024 held at Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), here, recently.
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United Sabah Chinese Communities Associations of Kota Kinabalu (USCCAKK) organised the annual event which was attended by some 5,000 people including participants of the competitions.
Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu, Dr Huang ShiFang, also presented prizes to the winners of the colouring competition that was participated by over 300 children.
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Also present was USCCAKK President Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen who was pleased with the encouraging turn out. The event also saw Bumiputera children winning the main prizes in several categories.
On Nov 24 last year, it was reported that the Chinese Embassy announced a 15-day visa-free policy from Dec 1, 2023 to Nov 30, 2024.
“To further promote people-to-people exchanges between China and Malaysia, the Chinese government will implement a 15-day visa free policy for Malaysian citizens holding ordinary passports who enter China for business, tourism, family visits and transit purposes.
“Those who do not meet the purposes of the visit and the time limit for the 15-day visa-free policy are still required to apply for visas to China,” said in a statement by the Chinese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
Chan said such announcement was a major breakthrough as it will bring more business opportunities to the people of Sabah and boost the country’s tourism industry.
Meanwhile, Dr Huang said the Chinese Consulate General is ready to work with all walks of life in Sabah to deepen the China-Malaysia.
She said such move is also in line to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
“The year 2023 has been a fruitful year for all of us. China and Malaysia reached an important milestone.
“Moreover, starting from (Dec 1), China and Malaysia have implemented reciprocal visa-free policies. These developments have provided new opportunities for the collaboration between China and Sabah.
Dr Huang said this in her speech at the opening ceremony of the festival in conjunction with Chinese New Year, which was officiated by Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam at SICC on Jan 27.
More than a hundred years ago, she said Chinese people migrated and settled down in Sabah. Even though they are far from their homeland, they have kept the tradition and spread the culture.
“The United Sabah Chinese Communities Association of Kota Kinabalu (USCCAKK) has been organising the Chinese New Year Festival for many years.
She said the festival helped to build rapport among the multicultural background of Sabahans, a unique and well-known trait for the State.
USCCAKK Deputy President Datuk Chua Soon Ping, who is also the organising chairman of the event, said 2024 is the Year of Wood Dragon beginning Feb 10, the first day of Chinese New Year. It is hoped to bring growth, success, prosperity, happiness, good fortune and abundance for everyone.
According to geomancy perspective, he said business involving “Earth, Wood, Fire” would do very well this year.
“Earth-oriented businesses include real estate property related, architecture, building construction, antiques and building materials, among others.
“While wood-oriented businesses such as healthcare, culture-related, education, publishing and agriculture and fire-oriented businesses such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, internet, energy, electric vehicles. The list goes on,” he said.
Chua, who is also Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (Shareda) President, said the festival has broken its own record again, with 155 troupes participating, which included 43 dragon troupes, 38 unicorn troupes, 66 lion troupes, seven northern lion troupes and one Pixiu.
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