IN Bukit Tambun, where diverse cultures converge and community ties run deep, the Chinese New Year (CNY) is not just a time for family reunions but also a celebration that unites the community and strengthens inter-ethnic bonds.
Following the launch of its first New Year song two years ago, residents have once again joined hands this year to produce a festive track titled “Joyful Reunion in Tambun for a Prosperous New Year”, using music to express local pride and highlight Bukit Tambun’s unique cultural and multicultural identity.
The music video (MV) for the song is currently being filmed, with Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow scheduled to make a special appearance. The song is expected to be officially released in early February to usher in the Lunar New Year.
Apart from Chow, those appearing in the MV include Bukit Tambun assemblyman Goh Choon Aik and Bagan Tambun Village Community Management Council (MPKK) chairman Ester Oh. Seven singers, including Ester herself, will lend their voices to the song, aiming to celebrate their hometown in the most heartfelt way.
Notably, all singers and production crew members are native Bukit Tambun residents. The song, with lyrics and composition by renowned musician Chew Tat Ban, reflects a strong spirit of community participation and collective effort.
The lyrics capture Bukit Tambun’s simple yet heartwarming festive atmosphere, creatively blending traditional elements such as firecrackers, reunion dinners, festive greetings, and Teochew gongs and drums. They convey wishes for peace, prosperity, abundant harvests, and good fortune in the year ahead, while highlighting local cultural characteristics and creating a rich Lunar New Year ambience.
Oh shared that after taking a one-year break from producing a New Year song last year, the project has returned this year with a special addition — a Teochew dialect segment designed to preserve local linguistic heritage.
“This segment will be performed jointly by senior singers and children, symbolising the passing down of culture across generations. YB Goh and CM Chow will appear in the MV but will not be singing. CM Chow is scheduled to be filmed in the reunion dinner scene on Jan 25,” she told Buletin Mutiara in an interview.
The final scene of the MV is set to be filmed on the evening of Jan 27 at the parking area beside Prawn Village Restaurant, depicting a warm Lunar New Year’s Eve gathering where villagers and elected representatives share a reunion dinner.
Oh acknowledged that the busy schedules of participants make filming a challenge, requiring careful coordination. Once filming and post-production are completed, the MV is expected to be officially released in early February.
Almost the entire MV is shot in Bukit Tambun and its surroundings, including the main street, Batu Kawan Stadium, the back lanes of Jawi Sungai Bakap, SMJK Jit Sin (South), and the Tambun Thai Temple, providing a comprehensive showcase of the area’s local landscape and character.
“Producing the New Year MV is not only about promoting Bukit Tambun and preserving dialect culture, but also about highlighting Malaysia’s multicultural harmony during the festive season. This is reflected in scenes such as the Zumba dance and reunion dinner, where participants from different ethnic communities come together, symbolising unity and togetherness,” Oh said.
Pix courtesy of Ester Oh