KENINGAU: Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan was excited with the reception of the Chinese community to the recent Lantern Festival.
“Other races also joined the festival. This shows that the spirit of unity between the races is becoming more intact which is very much in line with the slogan of Malaysia Madani.
“In Malaysia, the celebration of the Lantern Festival is very unique because it is celebrated by multiple races and each performance is influenced by our own culture,” he said when inaugurating the district-level Lantern Festival at Dataran Padang Bandaran here on Saturday.
Jeffrey, who is also Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry, said that in Malaysia the Lantern Festival is also known as the Mooncake Festival.
“This festival is actually as important as the Chinese New Year celebration.’
He said it is one of the traditional Chinese festivals to celebrate their harvest season which is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese calendar.
“Lanterns are a heritage of the Chinese community brought from mainland China used to celebrate after the harvest season, as an expression of joy in a festive atmosphere (similar to the Harvest Festival/Kaamatan),” said The Keningau MP.
Jeffrey said the Lantern Festival is held every year as an annual event and it is quite enjoyable, especially for children and teenagers from all walks of life who also help to strengthen family, neighbourhood and community relations, especially in this district.
He hoped the festival would be celebrated more lively and meaningfully in the years to come.
“I also hope that the family spirit shown tonight is not only for today but will continue to be maintained in the future in an effort to continue maintaining unity in Malaysia,” he said.
