THE 2027 state Chinese New Year (CNY) celebration, also known as Penang Miaohui, will be held at the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site on Feb 14 next year, coinciding with the ninth day of the Lunar New Year.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who announced the event at a press conference in Komtar today, described Penang Miaohui as one of the state’s signature CNY activities and a meaningful cultural heritage event that the state government would continue to support.
“To me, its significance lies not only in the number of people it attracts each year, but also in how many people begin to learn about their history and culture through this platform.
“Every year, I am delighted to see more young people, students and volunteers taking part in the celebration. In recent years, I have also noticed that some primary school pupils are able to explain historical figures and cultural stories to visitors in a lively and clear manner,” he said.
Chow said it was heartening to see younger generations taking the initiative to learn about their own culture and introduce historical stories to others.
“This shows that, given the right platform and opportunities, young people are willing to engage with and learn about traditional culture. That is precisely why the state government continues to support the Penang Chinese New Year celebration.”
He said that although the celebration lasted only one day, keeping culture alive in society required year-round dedication.
The Chinese community will usher in the Year of the Goat on Feb 6 next year.
With Penang Miaohui falling on Valentine’s Day, Chow said the occasion was not just about romantic dates, but also a cultural date that would allow people to fall in love with Penang’s history and heritage all over again.
He noted that the organising team had continued to reach out to schools to promote cultural education, train young volunteers, and organise cultural tours and other activities.
“These efforts give more young people opportunities to engage with history and culture, while encouraging those with an interest to gradually become involved in exhibition curation and cultural promotion,” he said.
Chow commended the Penang Chinese Clan Council and Inheritors for their dedication to planning and preparing for the coming edition, as well as previous editions.
From classical literature and folk tales to historical figures and mythical legends, these stories will be brought to life at Penang Miaohui under the theme “Echoes of Memories”.
Chow said that although the stories might have originated long ago, the values they conveyed, including loyalty, benevolence, integrity and courage, as well as the bonds between people, remained relevant and worthy of understanding and reflection today.
Also present at the press conference were state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai, Chief Minister’s political secretary Lau Keng Ee, Penang Chinese Clan Council chairman Ang Oon Lye and Inheritors chairperson Kwoh Shoo Chen.
Ang said Penang Miaohui was not just a day of excitement, but the culmination of a year-long effort to cultivate and preserve culture.
Citing last year’s edition as an example, he said the organising committee conducted 24 school sharing sessions, held 13 workshops and cultural sharing sessions, organised seven cultural and training camps, arranged six visits to museums and memorial halls, and conducted 12 heritage zone walkabouts.
These activities enabled volunteers and members of the public to get to know Penang’s heritage step by step, through the stories of its streets, buildings and people.
“On average, we carry out at least 100 cultural activities every year. These 100 activities are not just a number. They show that culture does not appear only on the day of the Miaohui. Throughout the whole year, it is learned, shared and remembered by more people, again and again,” he said.
On the coming edition, Ang said the focus would be on recalling how their forebears lived, tracing the marks left by history and the passage of time, and exploring the deep bonds between people and culture.
Event master planner Chong Jian Mei said she expected 26 heritage sites, including clan houses, associations and places of worship within the George Town heritage zone, to take part.
“Along these streets will be exhibitions and cultural booths created by our volunteers. In addition, there will be about 17 stages and street performance areas,” she said, stressing that Penang Miaohui is a cultural event, not a religious one.
Besides clan houses and associations, the organising committee had also invited the Acheen Street Mosque (Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh), Sri Mahamariamman Temple and St George’s Anglican Church to participate, in a spirit of mutual cultural appreciation.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Siew Chia En
Video by Siti Nuratikah Rahmat