A LIGHT drizzle did little to dampen the festive atmosphere at the 15th Seberang Perai Chingay Parade 2025, as people from all walks of life turned out in droves tonight to witness one of Penang’s most eagerly anticipated cultural celebrations.
Undeterred by the wet weather, spectators lined the streets along the parade route to catch a glimpse of the electrifying performances, soaring flagpoles and vividly adorned costumes that have become synonymous with the annual Chingay tradition.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the strong turnout reflected the deep cultural significance of Chingay, which has long served as a symbol of unity, tradition and harmony within Penang’s multiracial society.
“Chingay is not only festive and vibrant, but it is also rich in historical value and reflects the spirit of unity among the people of Penang,” he said in his speech before officiating the event at Padang Majlis Bandaraya Seberang Perai (MBSP) in Butterworth.
Chow said the presence of state leaders, local authorities, community leaders and cultural organisations demonstrated strong collective support for preserving cultural heritage while advancing sustainable and inclusive tourism development in the state.
He noted that Chingay is a unique cultural heritage of the Chinese community that has been a part of Penang’s culture for more than a century.
According to Chow, the art of balancing tall flagpoles requires exceptional physical strength, mental endurance, discipline and teamwork — values that mirror perseverance, harmony and unity among the various races in the state.
“This year’s Chingay Parade has attracted more than 40 teams from diverse backgrounds, showing that Chingay is not merely a cultural performance, but also a platform that brings together people across race, age and community boundaries,” he said.
The 4.6km-long parade concluded at Tow Boo Kong Temple in Butterworth.
Touching on tourism, Chow said he shared the views of other state leaders that continuous collaboration between the state and federal governments, as well as industry players, is essential to further strengthen tourism in Penang, particularly in Seberang Perai.
He said such cooperation was crucial for organising major events and attracting more tourists and visitors to the state.
Chow also revealed that the state government, through the Penang State Tourism and Creative Economy (Petace) office under state executive councillor Wong Hon Wai, has collaborated with Johor and Singapore to submit an application for Chingay to be recognised by Unesco as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.
“It is our hope that this application will be favourably considered and approved in the near future,” he said.
Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng, who was present, highlighted the uniqueness of his constituency and its potential to attract tourists based on its existing tourism strengths.
“We want to see how Bagan or Butterworth can be developed as a tourism destination, especially as we approach Visit Malaysia 2026. It is important for Bagan to take part in efforts to attract tourists and ensure the success of these initiatives,” he said.
Lim said three key elements were necessary to achieve this goal — proper tourism planning, meaningful and attractive activities, and capable and committed talent to develop and implement tourism projects.
“When these three elements are integrated, we can establish Butterworth as a recognised tourism centre,” he added.
In his speech, Lim also contributed RM20,000 from his parliamentary allocation towards the development and success of the Seberang Perai Chingay Parade.
Bagan Dalam assemblyman K. Kumaran extended his appreciation to the organisers and all parties involved in making the event a success, adding that he was proud the parade took place in his constituency.
Tourism Malaysia deputy chairman Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin expressed his appreciation to the organising committee members, related agencies and all parties involved.
“It is precisely because of your selfless dedication, hard work and close cooperation that an event of such a large scale can be successfully carried out,” he said.
Yeoh added that such cultural processions showcased the richness of traditional culture and served as a bridge to connect communities and strengthen social bonds.
Chow’s special coordinating officer, Lay Hock Peng, who is also the event’s organising chairman, said he was pleased that more than 40 teams, including participants from Perlis and Kedah, had travelled to take part in the parade, which involved more than 1,500 participants.
Also present was Sungai Puyu assemblyman Phee Syn Tze.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Muhammad Iqbal Hamdan
Video by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis