19/02/2026

THURSDAY | FEB 19, 2026

/thesuntelegram FOLLOW / Malaysian Paper

ON TELEGRAM m RAM

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CNY all about family for Muslim convert in Kelantan

TUMPAT: For a Muslim convert in Kelantan, Chinese New Year is more than a celebration, as it is a time to share stories and reconnect with family. Asmawee Wee Abdullah, 62, who embraced Islam 20 years ago, said he always makes it a point to celebrate Chinese New Year at his parents’ house near Kampung Kebakat, joining siblings of different faiths in the festivities. “I’ve never lost touch with my family and I make sure to visit my parents regularly as they get older. “Although I have converted to Islam, my relationship with my siblings remains very close. Our religions may be different, but our blood is the same,” he told Bernama. He added that his father Wee Po Ting and his mother Gan Mek Tee, who are both octogenarians, require support and care of the family. He also said family traditions are still cherished, from giving ang pao

o Celebrations, traditions remain cherished despite difference in religion to parents and children to preparing festive delicacies such as kuih bakul , which creates a joyful atmosphere at home. “What makes the celebration in

community in Kelantan.” He also said halal dishes were specially ordered from Malay vendors so that Muslim guests could join in the celebrations and enjoy the meal. Meanwhile, Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association deputy president Dr Johari Yap said Chinese New Year is a cultural festival, adding that Muslim converts could join the celebrations with their families, as long as no religious practices conflicting with Islam are involved.

celebrating Chinese New Year with my in-laws. They welcomed me so well and I could really see how close and harmonious the family is, even with our different religions.” Asmawee’s younger brother Wee Hock Tiong, 61, said despite their different religions, it has never stopped the family from celebrating together during festive times. “Visiting one another during Chinese New Year and Aidilfitri has become part of our family tradition, reflecting the respect and closeness in the Chinese

Kelantan special is the mix of traditional Chinese dishes with local favourites such as nasi kerabu , nasi dagang and budu , which everyone in the family loves.” Meanwhile, his wife Roslieza Rosli, 38, said this was her first Chinese New Year celebration that felt genuinely meaningful. She added that her in-laws welcomed her warmly, and the experience reflected the strong value of family love in the Chinese community. “It is the first time I am

Asmawee (fifth from left) and Roslieza with their family members during the visit to his parents’ house. – BERNAMAPIC

Chinese tourists wowed by Malaysian Lunar New Year festivities GEORGE TOWN: The Chinese New Year celebration of the Year of the Horse proved to be a refreshing and memorable experience for a group of Chinese tourists who chose to welcome the Lunar New Year in Malaysia, particularly in Penang. He was touched by the warmth of the locals and delighted to witness lion dances performed widely across the state. marked by family dinners and visits to places of worship, making the lively atmosphere in Malaysia a pleasant surprise. Piano teacher Zhao Zhuo, 35, who is visiting Malaysia for the first time with his mother Wang Lihui, 64, said the most noticeable difference was the cuisine, in addition to the lion dance performances.

Eye-Dotting ceremony by the cluster general manager of both establishments, Jegan Selvarajan, as a symbol of bringing the lion to life and bringing good luck and prosperity. This was followed by a lion dance parade around the resort, accompanied by performers dressed as the God of Wealth and the God of Laughter. Guests were also entertained with an acrobatic lion dance, mask-changing show, dragon dance and traditional Chinese acrobatics. The celebration concluded with a yee sang tossing ceremony, symbolising unity, prosperity and togetherness in welcoming the Lunar New Year. – Bernama

“Here, the celebration feels bigger and more vibrant,”he said, adding that even compared with Thailand, where he had previously celebrated the festival, Malaysia’s cultural presentation stood out as distinct. Travelling with his wife, daughter and friends, Xue observed that young generations increasingly choose to celebrate with friends or travel abroad instead of returning to their hometowns. “This year, my parents celebrated in another part of China. Perhaps next year, I’ll bring them here.”

“In China, lion dances are usually only seen in major cities, and travelling there could take a long time. “I’m also drawn to the food here. While it is rooted in Chinese cuisine, the fusion elements give it a unique taste that is quite different from what we have back home.” He added that he was especially eager to try yee sang , a traditional festive dish that is not commonly available in China. Meanwhile, businessman Xue Gang, 44, from Xiangzhou, said New Year celebrations in China are typically

“In China, we are more familiar with the dragon dance and we usually eat dumplings during the New Year. Here, the dishes are different, including yee sang , which we don’t have in our country,”he said during his week-long holiday in Penang. Earlier, they were among 1,000 guests who were treated to a festive and traditional reception by Shangri-La Rasa Sayang and Shangri-La Golden Sands hotels. The reception began with a Lion

Although the festival is celebrated by Chinese communities worldwide, they described the Malaysian celebration as uniquely vibrant, especially in terms of its cultural diversity and distinctive cuisine. Student Kai Yuan, 27, who is visiting Malaysia and Penang for the first time with his wife Zhang Yao, also 27, said Penang was the ideal place to celebrate the New Year due to its large and lively Chinese community.