THE value of family bonding is immeasurable and this was evident when many families turned out for the Family Day Carnival at the Karpal Singh Drive basketball court today.
Sungai Pinang assemblyman Lim Siew Khim, who was delighted with the good response, commended the four Women and Family Development Committees (JPWKs) from Pulau Tikus, Komtar, Sungai Pinang and Seri Delima for organising the event successfully.
The event was supported by the state government, through the Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC), and JCI Pearl, with JET as their collaborative partner.
“Our carnival today is line with the Penang2030 vision launched by our chief minister (Chow Kon Yeow).
“The family is a very important unit. When it is united, there is harmony.
“That is the purpose of this family carnival, for all to bond together.
“Five minutes walk from here, we have the Taman Areca for the family to enjoy some recreation.
“The young is our hope for the future. And much will depend on their contribution to the nation,” Lim said during her speech.
Chow officiated the opening of the Penang State Family Day 2022 at Gurney Plaza yesterday. Its theme is ‘Active Aging’ and the campaign is focused on intergenerational bonds within the family.
Also present at today’s carnival at the basketball court were Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng, PWDC chief executive officer Ong Bee Leng, and Jelutong penghulu Asri Ahmad.
Ong said PWDC began to organise a series of family day carnivals in 2019 to stress the importance of family harmony after Chow had launched the Penang2030 vision for ‘A Family Focused, Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation,’ in 2018.
“The games and other activities at the carnival are to encourage the families to come out, and eat together and play together.
“Most importantly is for them to have communication. Without communicating with one another, family breakdown can occur,” Ong said.
Mini-games and colouring contests were among the several activities held at the carnival today. They attracted many children who had plenty of fun participating in them.
To spice up the event, Zero Orchestra performed several songs to entertain the crowd. It signed off with an evergreen song, ‘Beautiful Sunday’.
Jet Kids, represented by eight pre-schoolers, also gave a delightful dance at the carnival.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Wong Sook Shyan
