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Showing posts with label Chinese New Year (CNY). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chinese New Year (CNY). Show all posts

Thursday 11 February 2021

CNY reunion dinner: Toss the fish for an ox-spicious start

 An Ox-spicious Spring at Furama this Chinese New Year


That’s something we can do at home to welcome the Year of the Ox and still have ‘din-dining’ fun with a bit pre-recorded help.


IT’S going to be a cheap Chinese New Year. For one thing, I haven’t even gone to the bank to get new notes for ang pow. Since I won’t be visiting or expecting visitors, there’s no point in preparing the red envelopes.

Despite the amended SOP allowing 15 family members within 10km radius to attend, my reunion dinner will be kept to just seven of us – including my maid – living in the same house. My sisters will not be able to return from Sydney or Singapore this time.

I have hung up my red lanterns, traditional decorative knots, set up vases of pussy willow, silk peonies and peach blossoms and bought baskets of mandarin oranges to make the house more festive.

But there is a hollowness to it. No one has been feeling bullish ever since our infection rates spiked dramatically and the movement control order was reimposed and now extended.

As for the reunion dinner, no one feels like having the traditional steamboat which is best eaten with lots of people. So we will tapau salted egg crabs from our favourite seafood restaurant and I will add a few home-cooked dishes.

Our lou sang dish will be made with the store-bought pickled and preserved ingredients as well as freshly grated daikon, carrots, pomelo and Korean pear. Instead of raw salmon, I am going to try it with unagi, Japanese grilled eel.

This is the thing I miss most this CNY: not being able to meet friends for lunch and dinner and noisily toss the fish. In previous years, I could happily lou sang at least half a dozen times.

My sister who lives in Singapore told me the government has taken a different approach. Dining-in at restaurants is allowed but with strict instructions how it should be done.

She says diners aren’t allowed to remove their face masks except to eat and drink. They put the masks back on to chat after the eating is done.

That is actually the right thing to do. We relaxed our restrictions to allow dining and we assumed we were somehow safe to strip off the mask because we are eating and or drinking. Well, serves our ignorance right. That is probably one of the causes of infections going up and spreading into the community.

I learned of a case in Seoul involving two Covid-19 positive people sitting in a coffee outlet. They were asymptomatic and were in the shop for hours, working on their laptops, sipping their coffee with their masks off.

By doing so, they became super-spreaders to many others who were also unmasked and sharing the same enclosed space. What is interesting and telling is that none of the waiters and staff who were masked all the time got infected.

That’s why Singapore’s Health Ministry’s SOP for diners this CNY is as follows:

“Those who are dining out should make sure they wear a mask if they are not eating or drinking. We already do not allow singing (including by diners) and other live performances at F&B establishments and work-related events where food is served.

“Diners should also avoid raising their voices, at all times. This also means that face masks must be worn during the tossing of yusheng (raw fish), and that the lohei (tossing of the fish and the other ingredients in the dish) should be done without any verbalisation of the usual auspicious phrases.

“F&B establishments and enterprises serving lohei must ensure that both the staff and patrons comply with these requirements.”

That does take the joy and fun out of the lohei ritual because we loud, noisy Chinese do love “din-dining” but there is a good reason for the ban. Research already shows that when we sing or shout, our spit droplets fly much wider and further.

But an enterprising Singaporean vlogger has loaded a video on YouTube entitled Auspicious Lohei Sayings and Prosperous Wishes With One Minute of Huat Ahh! that you can play for some festive noise.

I think it’s a good idea to resort to playing the video even when we lohei at home with family members.

If you are not happy with the video’s sound effect, I suppose you can prerecord your own auspicious phrases with CNY music in the background and maybe the sound of firecrackers going off too.

Singapore’s SOP goes further: Since Jan 26, “To further mitigate the risk of large community clusters arising from infections that spread within a household and through them to all their contacts, we will impose a cap of eight distinct visitors per household per day. Individuals should also limit themselves to visiting at most two other households a day, as much as possible.”

As my sister mused, is this enforceable? Probably not. That’s why the SOP appeals to everyone to cooperate with the new measures.

That’s the best all of us, whether in Singapore, Petaling Jaya or Sydney, can do. Respect proper mask wearing, maintain physical distancing and spend as little time as possible in one place, especially if it’s an enclosed space. Avoid crowds and wash those hands frequently!

Meanwhile, like everyone else, I will breathe a sigh of relief on Friday when we see the last of the Rat and we usher in the Year of the Niu. Niu is the Chinese character that generally refers “to cows, bulls, or neutered types of the bovine family, such as common cattle or water buffalo”, says Wikipedia.

Somehow, when it comes to naming the Chinese new year, the English translation of niu is ox and not cow or bull. We don’t say “year of the cow” or “bull”.

Yet, the popular image of the niu depicted on greeting cards and ang pow envelopes, of mall decorations, is that of a bull poised to charge with mighty horns, full of power and virility.

Indeed, the bull figures in many cultures, worshipped as a god and the ancestor of kings in several ancient civilisations.

But it is the domesticated, humble cow/bull/ox that has served humankind much more. For thousands of years, as oxen, they have been harnessed to plough fields, thresh and grind grain, pull carts and other heavy loads. For that purpose, oxen are usually castrated – and therefore more docile – cattle. As cows, they provided milk and as cattle, were slaughtered for their meat and hides.

In Chinese culture, the niu is seen as good-natured, hard-working, dependable and associated with good harvests and fertility. It has been anthropomorphised to have the qualities of gentleness, loyalty and trustworthiness.

According to Jupiter Lai, a Chinese astrologer quoted by The Japan Times, 2021 is the Year of the Metal Ox with the earth element, “representing stability and nourishment” which is exactly what the world needs now.

The world was driven crazy by the devious Rat whose year was fuelled by its yang energy. The Ox will bring in much needed yin energy to calm things down. At least that’s what the fortunetellers are saying. And very carefully at that.

I actually find it quite amusing that all the feng shui and Chinese horoscope websites seem to be very cautious in predicting what’s in store in 2021. I know of none who got it right for 2020.

Even without the soothsayers telling us, we know there will be long and difficult months ahead. But for the next week or two, let’s try to uplift our spirits, give thanks for a brand new year and pray for everyone’s health.

Stay vigilant! Gong Xi Fa Cai!

By June H.L. Wong -The views expressed here are the writer’s own.

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Xi extends Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese



https://youtu.be/kXmeRzutqsA 

 

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Tuesday 29 January 2019

Penang Lang: Feeling increasingly displaced in Penang, sad the demise of colourful language

槟城人(Penang Lang) - Home | Facebook

Feeling increasingly displaced in Penang, too

DATUK Seri Wong Chun Wai’s article expressed my sentiments exactly (“Feeling lost in Penang”, On The Beat, Focus, Sunday Star, Jan 27; online at bit.ly/star_hokkien /A banana's feeling lost in Penang, fearing will be illiterate in future).

I attended primary and secondary school at Convent Green Lane, and later went on to do my Sixth Form at St Xavier’s. Needless to say, I do not speak any Mandarin either. I, too, feel increasingly displaced in Penang, and am so sad to see Hokkien perceptibly fading away.

In preparing for my sociolinguistics class with undergraduates, I came across an interesting website by the Persatuan Bahasa Hokkien Pulau Pinang, speakhokkien.org. Others are concerned too.

(By the way, my class was studying concepts of language loss and language death, and I picked Penang Hokkien as a case to highlight the issue. In my demo, I spoke some and we all had a great big laugh – my personality inexplicably transforms when I speak Hokkien!)

One of the last bastions of Penang Hokkien could possibly be the Sg Ara market. During a visit sometime last year, I could still hear quite a bit of this beautiful dialect being spoken, to my great delight.

Thank you for highlighting the issue from a heartfelt personal perspective. I will include it in the reading list to help my students understand that language loss is not some abstract theoretical construct but is real and happening in our own backyard in Penang.

(By the way, wah ah boey khi bank gia ang pow long. Wah boh eng! Ah bo wah khi pasak bey kah ho :-)) (I haven’t gone to the bank to get ang pow packets. I am not free! Maybe it’s better that I go buy them in the market.)

JOY QUAH Kuala Lumpur The Star


Sad to see the demise of a colourful language

FIRSTLY, I must say I thoroughly enjoyed Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai’s article, “Feeling lost in Penang /A banana's feeling lost in Penang, fearing will be illiterate in future ”.

I was sent a link to the article by an old Auckland University friend who now lives in Singapore.

I’m a “banana” still living in Auckland after 40 years. And like Wong, I get pretty lost in Penang whenever I return.

Being ex-Penang Free School, I never learnt Mandarin. I worked in Shanghai for a year-and-a-half and my colleagues there used to tease me, “You can’t read Mandarin? You can’t write Mandarin? You can’t speak Mandarin? You must be illiterate!”

Penang is now starting to feel like China.

I find it’s more common nowfor Chinese youngsters to converse in Mandarin than in Hokkien. I speak Hokkien to the hawkers and get told that I must be from overseas! The Penang sing-song Hokkien will soon disappear. It’s a shame.

Like Wong, I too avoid Penang during Chinese New Year – it’s just too hectic. My wife and I visit mid-year when there are no events, celebrations or festivals. This year, it’s May/June. Wonder if there’s durian around then!

Have a Happy New Year, Keong Hee Huat Chai!

MICHAEL ONG Auckland, New Zealand The Star


Related post:

Children admiring a Hokkien glove puppet theatre performing 'Journey to the West' on a portable wooden stage at the Little Pe
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Saturday 26 January 2019

A banana's feeling lost in Penang, fearing will be illiterate in future

Children admiring a Hokkien glove puppet theatre performing 'Journey to the West' on a portable wooden stage at the Little Penang Street Market.

Its decline has been progressive, but Penang’s Hokkien heritage is at its closest to death’s door as 2019 takes off. 


LAST week, I returned to my hometown, Penang, to celebrate Chinese New Year. The family reunion meal with my father (who turns 94 this year) and (87-year-old) mother is an annual event I always look forward to.

It’s not possible to have my brothers (now in their mid-60s to 70 years old), their wives, children and grandchildren with us at the family event every time, but we get as many of them as we can. I have made it a point to host these pre-CNY meals because for the last few years, I have avoided being in Penang during the first two days of the actual celebrations.

That’s when Penang island’s roads get choked up and traffic comes to a complete standstill, the city desperately dealing with the homecoming of Penangites and tourists, especially during the second day of CNY.

The temperature on the island during the CNY season always seems to spike and at times, the scorching heat is almost unbearable. And that’s another reason why I withdraw from the otherwise lovely island during this festive period. As much as I yearn for my Penang hawker fare, I don’t want to jostle for a plate of char koay teow with tourists. But on this recent trip home, it hit me that I have become a stranger in my proud Hokkien-speaking island. The loss of the distinct northern-accented Hokkien has been apparent in the last few years but now it looks like its death may come sooner than feared.

It’s worse for a “banana” like me – a term to denote a person of Chinese origin who can’t speak or write Chinese, and instead, identifies more with Western culture. The term is derived from the fruit, which is “yellow on the outside, white on the inside”.

Those like me are regarded a disgrace to the Chinese-speaking community because I can’t read or write Chinese or speak Mandarin.

Their horror turns to disgust when I confess that I can’t even write my name in Chinese.

My decade of education was at St Xavier’s Institution, a Catholic establishment, and despite the religious background of the premier school, it had a liberal and open- minded culture that moulded most of its students, and this, us former students are enormously grateful for and proud of.

The multi-ethnic mix of the school’s population also means we had real friends from all races, developed and tested over a decade. So we always felt sorry for those who studied in Chinese, Tamil or Islamic-based schools then, because we felt their set up was mono-ethnic. And no matter how much the products of these schools claim they had friends from other races, we know they didn’t have the deep ties or bonds that those of us in English-medium schools developed.

Fast forward to 2019! Just like The Last Of The Mohicans – the James Fenimore Cooper historical novel realised in the 1992 movie about the last members of the dying Native American tribe, the Mohicans – it dawned on me last week that I could well be among the Last Of The Bananas in Malaysia.

At the Air Itam wet market, I asked for the price of the thee kuih, or kuih bakul, in Hokkein and the stall keeper, in turn, replied: “Oh, nee yau (you want) nian gao.”

A few steps away, another trader was loudly hawking ang pow packets, which, in previous times, would be referred to as “ang pow long” (red packets), but this time, I was hearing “hong bao feng”.

By the time I sat down at a coffee shop, the waiter was already taking down my order, again, in Mandarin, and quoting prices in that language, too. It was no longer “kopi” but “ka fei” now.

If there’s one clear feature that separates Penangites from the rest of the ethnic Chinese in Malaysia, it has always been the melodious Hokkien, with its rich sprinkling of Malay words that reveals its nonya-baba linguistic roots.

Penangites – at least from the older generation – are fiercely proud of their Hokkien, as it completely differs from the one spoken in Singapore, Taiwan or Xiamen in China, and even that in Melaka or Johor. Call us smug, snooty or parochial but we sometimes dismiss the Hokkien spoken elsewhere as somewhat crass and unrefined.

Only the Hokkien spoken by the Chinese in Medan closely mirrors Penang Hokkien, presumably because of the proximity between the island and the Indonesian city.

Whether rightly or wrongly, or plainly out of ignorance, Penangites feel the sing-song delivery is easier on the ears.

Words such as balai (police station), balu (just now), bangku (stool), batu (stone), cilaka/celaka (damn it), campur (to mix), jamban (toilet), gatai/gatal (itchy) gili/geli (creepy), sabun (soap) and kesian (pity), are an integral part of the Penang Hokkien dialect.

If the person is not from Penang, then he or she is likely from Kedah, Perlis or Taiping in Perak, to be able to converse in the northern-accented Hokkien. Which brings me to my point: As the daily use of the dialect is rapidly being replaced by Mandarin, I am feeling the impact the most. It is worse for the “bananas” who are feeling lost and out of place – in their home town.

It doesn’t help that many of the present Penang state and federal leaders aren’t from Penang, having been born and raised in either Melaka, Johor or Selangor.

The Penang Monthly bulletin, in its May 2017 issue, dramatically headlined the situation: “Penang Hokkien on life support”.

In an interview with the publication, Penang Hokkien Language Association secretary Ooi Kee How lamented that “our creativity, our cultural identity, will decline. A lot of innovations will disappear, because different languages shape the way we think differently.”

But the wide use of Mandarin and the decline of the dialects is not just endemic to Penang. Cantonese is spoken less in the Klang Valley, too, and is suffering the same sad fate as northern Hokkien. The random stranger who calls up, irritatingly “inviting” us to take up a loan having been “specially selected”, speaks to me in Mandarin because it’s assumed I can speak the language since I have a Chinese name. Likewise, the sales staff who stops us at the shopping mall also speaks to me in Mandarin, likely led by the same deduction.

So, as a “banana” who thinks and dreams in English, I am starting to suffer from anxiety. I am embarrassed by my inability to communicate in an important language – with huge economic value – and worse, the national language of my ancestral country.

At the rate, the Chinese language is being used, even by non-Chinese, I fear that I will be regarded illiterate in future. “Bananas” in the past ridiculed and mocked the Chinese-educated for not being able to speak English sufficiently, or roll their tongues well enough to produce the “r” sound, but now, it looks like the tables have turned on the “bananas”, instead.

A whole generation of Malaysian Chinese has been educated in Chinese schools, at least at primary level. It has been widely reported, from various surveys, that up to 90% of Chinese parents send their children to Chinese primary schools, and the balance to national medium schools.

As I have written here before, this is unlike the experience of the older generation of Penangites like me, now in their 50s, who attended schools using English as a medium of instruction. In the absence of Mandarin, we spoke mainly Hokkien and English, but people in their 30s and 40s are more comfortable conversing in Mandarin, and certainly not English.

Then there is the huge impact of Chinese TV shows, especially on Astro. They are entirely in Mandarin – with shows from mainland China and Taiwan – and Hokkien, which is spoken in a manner closer to that used in Melaka, Johor and Singapore.

It’s no surprise that the sales staff at malls also expect the Chinese community to speak Mandarin, and understandably, they will begin the conversation in Mandarin – because you are expected to know the language.

There is also the impact of China as the new economic powerhouse of Asia, if not the world. Mandarin has become the dominant language with economic value, and certainly prestige. That’s how it is now, but this may well come at the expense of a rich heritage.

The harsh reality is that the unique “sing-song” style of Penang Hokkien might no longer be heard decades from now if this frightening trend continues. Even worse, what’s certain is that the “bananas” will be history very soon.

Well, what can I say, except to wish you “xin nian kwai le” (happy new year) and “gong xi fa cai” (may you attain greater wealth) this festive season!

by Wong Chun Wai On The Beat

Wong Chun Wai began his career as a journalist in Penang, and has served The Star for over 27 years in various capacities and roles. He is now the group's managing director/chief executive officer and formerly the group chief editor.

On The Beat made its debut on Feb 23 1997 and Chun Wai has penned the column weekly without a break, except for the occasional press holiday when the paper was not published. In May 2011, a compilation of selected articles of On The Beat was published as a book and launched in conjunction with his 50th birthday. Chun Wai also comments on current issues in The Star.


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Wednesday 21 February 2018

Singing and dancing to world domination

https://youtu.be/1erLHgqYtX0

https://youtu.be/dH2VyAJ0wbw

This year's CCTV Spring Festival Gala shows off China's power, both soft and hard.


 

"China now intends to lead the world in just about everything."


BY the end of the show, there was no doubt left in my mind that China is ready for world domination.

This was the CCTV Spring Festival Gala, an immensely popular national event by China Central Television that is telecast live on the eve of Chinese New Year. I watched a day later on YouTube.

The gala, which started in 1983, has all the elements of a variety show with lots of singing, dancing, acrobatics and comedy skits. This year’s edition followed the same mix and ran for more than five hours.

Thanks to livestreaming, for the first time, it hit an all-time high worldwide viewership of a billion people, according to China Global Television Network (CGTN), CCTV’s international arm.

The gala is therefore an extremely important platform for China to present itself at its best. Clearly, a great deal of planning, with no expenses spared, went into the production that showcased Chinese creativity and culture, as well as the country’s military might and technological advancements.

The result: an awesome spectacle that would have put the 2008 Beijing Games opening ceremony in the shade.

Most of the action was in CCTV’s auditorium in Beijing supported by performances staged in four provinces: Guizhou, Guangdong, Shandong and Hainan.

These four stages were outdoor and unique. Guizhou, one of China’s most diverse provinces, showed off its minority groups like the Miao and Hmong in their elaborate traditional costumes in a hi-tech setting.

The Guangdong show took place on a section of the magnificent Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, the world’s longest sea bridge that is slated for opening the middle of this year.

Shandong, the birthplace of Confucius and Taoism, chose a citadel-like building as its backdrop. Finally, Hainan, famed for hosting several Miss World pageants, presented itself as a balmy tropical paradise.

Apart from the skits, which seemed very 1970s but obviously still very popular with the audience, the other acts were extremely elaborate and performed by what seemed like a million people, who danced in perfect precision, sang in total harmony, aided by dazzling use of LED screens and special effects.

In keeping with the joyous occasion, the venues were so brightly multi-coloured and busy, it was almost eye-watering. There was never a dull moment.

I couldn’t help comparing the show to the dance and acrobatic performances from the 1980s. That was when China started opening up and sending out performing troupes in cheap tracksuits and canvas shoes who excelled in contortions, twirling plates and bowls, balancing on ladders and chairs, and creating formations on a single bicycle in motion.

The performers were certainly well-trained and competent, but they hardly smiled and came across as rather soulless and robotic.

Well, how things have changed. The Chinese people are no longer poor, suppressed and grim. That’s long gone.

When it comes to national pride, the Chinese are beating out the Americans, who made flag and country a Hollywood staple.

When you have the likes of Jackie Chan singing a patriotic song about Chung-kuo, backed by a whole pride of stylishly clad smiling young people and footage of gorgeous scenery, modern cities and wind tur­bines, it sure does make the heart beat faster.

Over the Guangdong bridge, drones and acrobatic planes weaved magic in the night sky, while off Hainan, a flotilla of boats lit up the waters.

And when it comes to culture and heritage, China has it in spades, from Chinese opera to kung fu and wushu to traditional dances and songs.

A jaw-dropping performance featured a huge ensemble of women dressed as bodhisattvas moving in unison so fluidly they were like one body; their entire performance made more mesmerising by the play of lighting that changed their costumes from yellow, to white to fuchsia.

One of my favourite acts was singer Jay Chou performing with a blend of virtual reality magic that was beautifully choreographed and synchronised with his movements.

I was also happy that among the foreign guest artistes was my dear boy from Kazakhstan, singer extraordinaire Dimash, whom I wrote about in my April 19, 2017, column which brought me the most number of e-mails from around the world.

What I liked about this year’s gala was its restrained presentation of China’s armed forces. Usually, the stage is filled with uniformed military personnel doing formations or singing a martial song.

This time, it was a more arty performance and China’s military might subtly conveyed by a strongman doing incredible handstands.

As with previous galas, the meaning of Chinese New Year was beautifully conveyed in a heart-tugging video of people returning for and preparing for the reunion dinner that brought home the importance of family and traditions.

Except for one misstep – a dreadful segment that tried to showcase Sino-African relations that critics have savaged as “a racist blackface” skit – CCTV Spring Festival Gala 2018 was a truly spectacular show that fuelled nationalistic pride among China’s citizens and left the rest of the world gobsmacked. It paid homage to the nation’s rich past, revelled in a confident present and announced an ambitious future.

I shut down my PC at almost 4am and as I lay me down to sleep, I recalled what I wrote in a commentary in June 2016 in which I described China as a shy superpower that actually tried to pretend it wasn’t one.

Not anymore. On Oct 18 last year, President Xi Jinping announced at the 19th National Communist Party Congress that China now intends to lead the world in just about everything, be it military presence, economic and development policies like the Road and Belt, technological innovations and artificial intelligence or even sports and entertainment.

Don’t believe me? Consider this then: China is the world leader in applications for inventions with 1.36 million patents and it has been the leader for seven consecutive years.

When it comes to investing in research and development, it ranked second in the world last year.

It’s all part of China’s blueprint for world domination. And that’s no song and dance!

So aunty, so what? June H.L. Wong

Aunty wished she could highlight more of the five-plus hour-long gala. If you haven’t watched it, you should check it out on YouTube. Feedback: aunty@thestar.com.my

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Saturday 28 January 2017

CNY 2017, Xi spreads love, inspires nation ...


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中國國家主席習近平2017年新年賀詞(Chinese President Xi Jinping 2017 New Year Address)
https://youtu.be/o4jS9hLiHUQ


President Xi Jinping (pic) struck a warm tone with his annual Spring Festival greeting calling on the whole nation to love their family and friends.

Love should reach to every family and bring warmth to all Chinese like a spring breeze blowing across the nation, he said on Thursday in his speech ahead of the Lunar New Year.

“The Chinese people have always valued love and high morality,” Xi told his audience at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, which included senior government officials, military officers, renowned artists and ethnic community leaders.

He urged people not to neglect their family, comrades and loved ones, no matter how busy they are with their work. Love means not being hypocritical, not selfish and not outrageous, he said.

“A short greeting of ‘welcome home for Spring Festival’ would warm the hearts of millions of Chinese people,” he said.

Xi went on to wish all Chinese, including ethnic groups, those in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and those living abroad, an auspicious Year of the Rooster, an animal that symbolises good fortune.

China’s economic growth has remained one of the strongest in the world, and people’s livelihoods have continuously been improved, the president said, before calling on the nation to “roll up our sleeves to work harder”.

Xi said he hopes the people “not only have great dreams, but also show a hardworking spirit to fulfil those dreams”. He added, “The progresses in China’s development are achieved thanks to Chinese people’s diligent work.”

Jin Yanlei, a geography teacher in Dongying, Shandong province, said,

“President Xi has told us to roll up our sleeves to work harder, which I think is important not only for ourselves, but also for the nation, especially at a time when the global economy is sluggish.” — China Daily/The Star/Asia News Network

Malaysia's PM Najib Razak : Chinese New Year TVC 2017

https://youtu.be/8DB9zIlQrh0

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Sunday 7 February 2016

Chinese New Year Reunion 2016

‘Falling’ in love: A screengrab of Mah Sing Group’s Chinese New Year video that is going viral on social media.


Another year, another reunion


The modern Malaysian Chinese family has come a long way. Many practices have been ‘adjusted’ but some things never change.

NOT many families want to talk about it openly. But the all-important Chinese New Year reunion dinners have become more complicated and in recent years, more stressful for sure.

It is almost impossible and even unfair to expect the patriarch and matriarch of the family to cook the meal, traditionally sumptuous and heavy in some cases, especially when they are getting along in years.

Mum’s cooking sounds good everywhere but in many cases, this has become a fond but distant memory. The maid has taken over this role and of course, our expectations have also become more realistic.

The world has changed. The women family members, whether daughters or daughters-in-law, are part of the work force now.

It is wrong to expect them to take over the kitchen duties. In fact, don’t even expect them to do the dishes. Don’t even think about it if you know what’s good for you especially during the festive season.

Cleaning up the house after a feast is a daunting task. All of us understand and accept the fact that we cannot overwork the maid, who are already grumbling about the weaker ringgit.

So, the modern Malaysian Chinese family settles for a compromised position – have the reunion dinner at a hotel or restaurant. Never mind if the food might be crappy.

For a Penangite like me, where Perakanan dishes are compulsory in the reunion meal, I resign to the fact that I won’t find my favourite jiu hoo char (stir-fried turnip with dried cuttlefish) and lobak (meat rolls) at any hotel banquet.

But you know that’s not all. The family member – perceived to be the most successful in life – always ends up paying the hefty bill. It’s only expected.

And we all know that hotel food, like those served on planes, is bad. But telling the person footing the bill that the meal is “lousy” right after dinner is not exactly the appropriate CNY greeting ....

Next, the giving of ang pow for the kids. While no one wants to admit that the amount in these red packets matter, it does!

It’s not going to look too good on you if the ang pow is small – and I mean the money inside, not the size of the packet – and especially if you are perceived to be better off.

Then, the conversation after the reunion dinner. And that is the most sensitive which can cause friction and great unhappiness.

I am not talking about the 1MDB and the RM2.6bil donation issue but explosive questions to family members, who are past 30 and still unmarried.

Yes, these purportedly choosy types, who think their partner, especially if you are a woman, should have better degrees, bigger car, a house, a club membership, a steady job with hopes of further promotions and of course, good looks, a great sense of humour as well as soft skills. By this, I mean having the ability to appreciate fine food and wine.

For the guys, they expect their partners to be able to cook like their mothers, be as good looking and curvy as the celebrities they see in heavily photoshopped pictures in magazines and of course, have a good career to help pay for the household bills.

But that’s not the end of it. If you are married and have not started a family, you would be offered many unsolicited solutions from busybody aunties – from artificial insemination to eating bull’s penises. Of course, there are subtle accusations of dangerous liaisons in China, what with the frequent business trips there.

No wonder the Chinese population in Malaysia is shrinking fast. But of course, like many Chinese voters, the blame has to fall on the Government. Their failure, or inability or refusal, to start a family, is the fault of the government entirely.

And if you happen to work in the media, all eyes will be on you. In this case, it’s me. With Google and news portals with anti-government slants easily available these days, everyone is now an expert on every issue. We have all become instant analysts and opinion shapers.

Yes, yes, of course, Malaysia’s temperature during the CNY will drop to as low as 16°C and will be the coldest CNY ever.

“That’s what the social media said what, so must be true mah!”

But it’s a reunion dinner. After the interrogation of the poor singles, it undoubtedly has to come to politics. I am not sure if this is a Malaysian thing, like the open house, but do people in other countries whine too?

Probably they do, and by now politicians in modern democracies would have realised that they have to earn their respect.

Don’t expect the people to pay homage to you because no one told you to stand for election and for sure, don’t expect us to be eternally grateful to you because you came begging for our votes with plenty of promises.

They have to learn that they will be belittled, ridiculed and criticised. So don’t run to the powers that be to shut anyone up with sedition charges. Get used to it.

I expect the grumbling and cynical remarks to be louder this year at gatherings with family and friends. There are a lot of unhappy people around.

But politicians do not have to worry too much as the louder yam seng will drown the complaints. To all Malaysians celebrating Chinese New Year, I wish you all Gong Xi Fa Cai!

By Wong Chun Wai on the beat The Star

Wong Chun Wai began his career as a journalist in Penang, and has served The Star for over 27 years in various capacities and roles. He is now the group's managing director/chief executive officer and formerly the group chief editor.

On The Beat made its debut on Feb 23 1997 and Chun Wai has penned the column weekly without a break, except for the occasional press holiday when the paper was not published. In May 2011, a compilation of selected articles of On The Beat was published as a book and launched in conjunction with his 50th birthday. Chun Wai also comments on current issues in The Star.

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Saturday 1 February 2014

How and what the 12 zodiac signs will fare in Horse Year holds?

Renowned geomancer Jane Hor gives the low-down on how the 12 zodiac signs will fare in the Year of the Horse.

Rat (1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008)

This year the Rat clashes with the Grand Duke. People born under this zodiac sign are likely to meet with changes in romance, career or their living environment. Changes can be good or bad, depending on the individual’s birth date and time, and other factors.

The Rat has to be vigilant as there are many inauspicious stars that will fly into their destiny palace.

They may encounter many obstacles in their career. Even slight negligence may result in wasted effort.

Avoid lavish spending to curb cash-flow problems.

You are on an emotional roller-coaster. Release your negative emotions wisely and beware of unscrupulous people around you.

You are prone to accidents and injuries this year. Be extra careful in outdoor activities, especially those involving heights.

Ox (1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009)

This will be a prosperous year with plenty of opportunities. You may take on a high position, thanks to two powerful and auspicious stars.

Do not get carried away with success, though, or you may evoke jealousy from your colleagues, and end up with more foes than friends.

You should not have problems with wealth this year, and enjoy a steady income. Your investments will reap profits, too.

Invest wisely, work hard and avoid gambling.

Where relationships are concerned, be more understanding and tolerant towards your partner. Health-wise, watch your diet: avoid cold and raw food.

In 2015 (Year of the Goat), the Ox will clash with the Grand Duke directly. Your luck-flow will be in a turbulent state. Make preparations to face bad times next year.

Tiger (1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010)

Your luck-flow is not significantly good as you have no auspicious stars. Stay vigilant and calm and you should be safe.

Career-wise, you have to deal with villains around you as there are lots of inauspicious stars surrounding you. Be on high alert as it is already difficult for you to dodge gossip and back-stabbing from unscrupulous people who will try to cause you “severe damage”.

Guard your job because there could be people who want to grab your rice bowl, or steal your credit.

Your financial luck is weak this year. Avoid gambling and making investments.

Love is elusive, so be patient.

Health-wise, be extra careful while on the road. Watch out for sprains and other physical injuries.

Rabbit (1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011)

The Rabbit will enjoy many pleasant opportunities as they have many auspicious stars.

This is a good time to develop your career and realise your ambitions. The road to success is not without obstacles but you will eventually overcome them.

Beware of your tongue because you can get into trouble and cause dispute and bickering among your friends and colleagues.

This is also a good year for diversified investments but do so within your means.

This year, with the Ox, you will have plenty of opportunities for romance. You may have a short-term but memorable affair.

Beware of scandals and illicit relationships.

The married Rabbit who is planning to have a baby this year will have a high chance of conceiving.
Health-wise, do not indulge in wine. Also, pay attention to the health of elders in the family.

Dragon (1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012)

You have opportunities to stand out in your career, but you have to be wary of how you handle social interactions. Avoid creating conflict with your colleagues and do not offend your superior. Your luck in wealth will fluctuate because of an inauspicious financial star, which may cause you to overspend and burst your budget.

Avoid gambling and high-risk investments or you may suffer serious financial losses.

Your love life remains stagnant and there is no significant breakthrough. The opportunity for a relationship is very slim.

Health-wise, beware of dangers on the road. This year, you are more prone to car- and water-related accidents. Avoid participating in water-related sports (swimming or scuba-diving) as you may encounter accidents and get injured easily. For those with children, pay attention to them to prevent accidents and injuries.

Snake (1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013)

Your luck-flow turns positive this year as there are auspicious stars. Career-wise, you will be busier than before. Rewards and promotion will come your way, especially for white-collar workers.

However, you have to be cautious because there are a few inauspicious stars surrounding you that hinder your career development.

Your motto this year should be, “Action speaks louder than words”. Remember to put in extra effort to secure your promotion and increment.

Guard your wealth closely as it could come, and go, very quickly, especially your personal possessions. This year, you may lose your wallet.

Romance has its ups and downs, so manage your emotions.

Take good care of your health as you may easily fall sick. Get more exercise and rest to prevent serious illness.

Horse (1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002)

The Grand Duke is sitting in the middle, so, if there is no celebration, there shall be calamities. Therefore, those born in the Year of the Horse may get into trouble easily this year.

If there is some celebration in the family, you might be able to avert calamities, but still you have to be on high alert.

Think before you leap as you are said to be offending the “yearly Grand Duke”. You may feel lost and moody and may make the wrong decisions. Avoid making decisions when you are in an unstable state of emotion, to avoid unwanted calamities.

There are many inauspicious stars hindering you from leading a better life.

Have more communication with your superior, clients or peers, as it could bring you surprising results.

Love-wise, you tend to feel depressed at times, and often find yourself eaten up by jealousy and fury.

Your health needs attention and you should beware of accidents. Donate blood or get a dental scaling in lunar May and November.

Be careful of food hygiene or you may experience food poisoning.

Overall, you are advised not to be too pessimistic and to exercise more caution when making decisions.

Try to travel as you may think more clearly after a short break.

Goat (1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003)

The Grand Duke shall be your good friend this year and you will have excellent interpersonal relationships.

The Goat will enjoy good luck and bright prospects in their career, especially in jobs that require constant contact with people.

An auspicious star flies into your destiny palace; you may easily get help from your male peers. You have chances of a promotion or an increment.

Keep a low profile and be humble.

There are a few inauspicious stars surrounding you, which means that there are unscrupulous people (especially females) who will try to sabotage you and hinder your career development.

Your wealth is stable – you can expect a tidy sum from your mainstream income and also returns from your investments.

Spend and shop wisely because there is an inauspicious star that will cause you to spend lavishly, thus draining your wealth.

You will enjoy favourable relationships with people around you. Be careful of becoming overly friendly with the opposite sex. A third party may cause conflicts.

Health-wise, you may suffer from minor illnesses but that should not be too much of a concern.

Monkey (1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004)

You will face numerous obstacles in your career. Very often, things do not progress smoothly because of the deliberate misconduct of some people around you. Do not be disheartened but be optimistic and pro-active. Never give up halfway or you will end up nowhere.

Career-wise, this is a year for conservative defence rather than aggressive attack.

Watch how you spend your money and avoid taking loans.

Health-wise, besides paying close attention to your physical and psychological well-being, take good care of the elders in your family. Go for regular check-ups as a preventative measure.

Rooster (1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005)

The Rooster will enjoy a great performance in career. Although there are “risks and traps”, you will receive help from good people around you. When in doubt, seek advice and help from your seniors, especially women.

Pay close attention to your investment and wealth management to avoid major financial crises.

In terms of your love life, you may have many chances to meet many friends and some of them are your noblemen. For those romantic partners who are still in love, this is a good year to get married. Singles have good opportunities to meet the right partner.

Health looks good this year and shouldn’t be much cause for concern.

Dog (1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006)

The Dog can easily receive help from people around them this year. This year, Dog people may have an excellent performance in career. If the nature of your work requires keen thinking (interior designer, composer or scripwriter), this year, you are full of creativity and have a high chance of climbing the career ladder. However, keep yourself in check. Do not become arrogant or you may lose the support of your friends.

Your wealth looks good this year. Both your mainstream income and other sources of income will yield returns.

Although you have lots of chances to meet people of the opposite sex through your career, romance won’t bloom and you will feel very lonely. Try to share your feelings with your partners or family members. Or join more group activities or learn something new to fill the emptiness.

Be aware of food hygiene as you may have food poisoning this year.

Pay attention to your own safety; you may encounter accidents or suffer injuries.

Pig (1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007)

Last year, the Pig people had a clash with the Grand Duke. In the first half of this year, you are still affected by the clash. You have to be persistent, calm and patient in facing all your problems.

After autumn, your condition will improve, especially if you are in marketing or a job that requires you to liaise constantly with people. Career-wise, seek help when the need arises. Do not persist alone or you may end up a complete failure.

This year, you have a “minor depletion” star that will see you indulge in spending on luxury goods. You have to control your urge to spend, to avoid overspending. Besides your usual savings, guard your assets well to prevent theft or robbery.

Your health is poor this year, so be wary of contracting illnesses. Ensure you get enough rest to avoid falling sick. – Majorie Chiew The Star

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Thursday 30 January 2014

Cheeky equine greetings of the Horse 2014: ma shang you…

The messages for the New Year convey people’s hopes and goals along with a sassy sense of humour.
ma shang



HAPPY Chinese New Year! On this very first day of the Year of the Horse, let’s take a look at the New Year greetings that have swept cyberspace before the Snake could make a slithering exit.

A phrase that begins with ma shang you… is popularly used in the context of Chinese New Year wishes.

Separately, ma means “horse” while shang means “above”. When combined, the two characters form an adverb that means “immediately” or “right away”. Literally, however, they can denote “on horseback”.

Meanwhile, ma shang you… means “get (something) immediately”.

The common greetings include ma shang you qian, ma shang you fang and ma shang you che hao, which mean “get rich immediately”, “own a house immediately” and “obtain a car licence plate immediately” (from the compulsory licence plate lottery before one can own a car, a measure to curb traffic congestion).

Accompanying these phrases are illustrations of horses with ingots, bank notes, houses or cars on their back.
Another cheeky example shows a pair of mini elephants sitting on the back of a horse.

It is used to express a wish of finding a partner in the New Year as the Chinese term for partner, dui xiang, is literally a pair of elephants.

But what if a person wants it all — money, house, car and everything?

Just place an eggplant on the back of a horse because eggplant or qie rhymes with everything in Chinese.

On Taobao, China’s version of eBay, snuggly horse soft toys are currently selling like hot cakes. Many come with eggplants, elephants, money and houses, while others have chariots from Chinese chess to represent cars.

But there are party poopers who have pointed out that horses have a layer of hair, mao, and thus ma shang you… becomes ma shang you mao. The phrase means “have nothing”, which dashes one’s dreams of getting anything at all.

Jokes aside, these ma shang you… phrases can be summarised into one conclusion — the people’s earnest wish for a better life in the brand new year.

According to China Women’s News, this ma shang you… trend is not a new invention.

Traditional decorative items have been found adorned with the illustration of a monkey on horseback, as the Chinese character for monkey, hou, is homophonic to an honorific title in ancient times.

When asked to analyse the ma shang you… trend in the local media, Xia Xueluan, a professor of sociology at Peking University, said that it was a reflection of people’s anxiety in the face of housing and marriage issues in real life.

“It also brings out their aspirations and expectations. Through expressing their hopes boldly, they are setting a goal for themselves and then working hard towards achieving it,” he said.

On that note, here’s wishing you a joyful celebration with friends and family. May the masculine beast bring you whatever your heart desires on its back. Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Contributed by:  by Tho Sin Yi Check-in China
The views expressed are entirely the writer’s own.
 
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Good things on the trot in Year of the Horse for 2014

Monday 27 January 2014

Good things on the trot in Year of the Horse for 2014

The noble horse should bring luck and harmony to those who make the proper observances.
WE are four days away from ushering in the Chinese New Year and I’m swamped with queries from readers as to how they can improve their luck and prosperity in the Year of the Horse.

Local and foreign geomancy experts have been giving varying views about this year’s outlook.

Several astrologers and feng shui experts have predicted the Year of the Horse to be a better year than the previous one and there are some who have forecast financial struggles and challenges.

Some people attribute their successes and windfalls to feng shui and spiritual practices and there are groups who relate them to hard work and coincidences.

The horse, the seventh animal in the Chinese zodiac, embodies characteristics such as strength, perseverance, speed, purity and loyalty. – EPA

So which philosophy is correct, or which one do we follow?

It depends on which faith system (Chinese or Indian) you observe.

I spoke to several experts recently on the subject of metaphysics to get some insight on the different schools of philosophy.

Feng shui consultant Henry Fong from Kuala Lumpur said that if one wants to have better luck and harmony in the Year of the Wood Horse, they would have to follow the orientation of certain things in their home.

For dwellers living in a house that is facing south, he said, they should not carry out renovations or they would activate Tai Sui, which would create problems for the occupants.

(Tai Sui refers to stars directly opposite to Jupiter. They influence the Chinese zodiac, and are involved in religious Taoism and feng shui.)

Fong urged people not to renovate the north sector for fear of triggering the three killing energies resulting in obstacles, disaster and robbery.

He said, however, that it would be good to occupy and spend time in the north, south and south-west sectors.

Fong said the north-west and east sectors should be avoided and if they are unable to do so, they should place metal items there to neutralise the negative energies that can lead to health problems.

Luck and fortune according to Indian vedic astrology is determined by the placement of the nine planets on an individual’s birth chart based on the date, month, year and time of birth.


According to Vasthu Sastra consultant and astrologer Master Yuvaraj Sowma from Chennai, luck and fortune are uncontrollable and people only get what they deserve based on their astrology and not what they desire.

He agrees that luck can be induced through spiritual practices like performing specific rituals to woo the energy of positivity.

Yuvaraj said the first six months of this year would produce better results than the second half.

From the Chinese almanac, the horse is naturally lucky when it comes to finance and career; meaning those born in the Year of the Horse will enjoy a better period.

To enhance destiny, luck symbols are made available in feng shui because of the belief that such products help chi flow gracefully through rooms, homes and offices.

Energy consultant and author Janarrdhana Guptha from India promotes good luck symbols as an effective way to manifest things that an individual wants to attract into his or her life.

According to him, symbolism is popular in almost every culture and symbols impact our subconscious mind, stimulate confidence and offer good outcomes.

“When the geometric shape, size, meaning and their other nuances are properly understood and activated, it results in transmission of energy which is the vital force that governs everything in the universe.

“Chi has the power to alter and amplify energy flow in any space,” said Guptha, who is the author of Guide To Feng Shui Good Luck Symbols.

He said the end result of using good luck symbols, charms, amulets and talismans is that they create an environment rich with positive energy that produces positive thinking, focused minds and confidence, and removes blockages.

In order for symbols to produce the anticipated results, the products should be cleansed and energised before use.

As for horse figurines, Guptha said the Chinese have always associated it with gifts given to emperors.

The horse is the seventh animal in the Chinese zodiac and it embodies noble characteristics such as strength, perseverance, speed, purity and loyalty.

For those who wish to have their talents and hard work acknowledged by their superiors, Guptha said they should place a flying horse figure in the south of their homes.

The horse statuette is ideal for those who are in marketing or the travel industry, and are frequent travellers.

Vasthu Sastra talk and astrology talk

T. Selva will present a talk on ancient secrets, Vasthu Sastra and the astrology forecast for 2014 from 3pm to 5pm on Feb 15 at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar), Jalan Universiti, Bandar Barat, Kampar, Perak. Admission is free. To register, call 012-329 9713.

Contributed by T. Selva
You can follow T. Selva on twitter@tselvas and write to him at tselvas@thestar.com.my. This column appears on the last Sunday of every month.

 T. Selva is the author of the Vasthu Sastra Guide and the first disciple of 7th generation Vasthu Sastra master Yuvaraj Sowma from Chennai, India.