IT WAS indeed a “marathon” for MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek as he attended several Chinese New Year open houses organised by the party’s division in different parts of Perak on the seventh day of the lunar celebration.
Having welcomed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to the state MCA open house at SJK (C )Yuk Choy in Ipoh at 9am before making his appearance at the state Wanita and Youth open house at Restoran Seri Lido in Ipoh, Dr Chua made his way to the Gopeng division open house at Gunung Rapat New Village at noon.
Accompanied by Perak MCA secretary Datuk Tan Chin Meng, division chief Albert Chang and his deputy Alex Chan, Dr Chua was greeted by thousands of residents who had gathered at the basketball court at the village.
Traditional greeting: Dr Chua and Barisan Nasional leaders greeting Bidor folks with mandarin oranges. At about 1.30pm, Dr Chua, who is also state MCA chief, was at the Lawan Kuda new village to celebrate the new year with the local people at the village community hall.
The event, also organised by the Gopeng MCA division, saw Dr Chua distributing RM100 each to party veterans for their long service to MCA and also hampers to 32 dialysis patients.
Speaking to about 1,000 folks who attended the event, Dr Chua expressed hopes that the Chinese could help increase the country’s population.
“The Chinese population has decreased from 38% since the time of Independence to 24.5% now.
“However, we anticipate a slight increase of up to 15% in newborn babies this year compared to previous years as most Chinese would want Year of the Dragon children,” he said.
A welcome tr eat: A lion dance at Tanjung Malim MCA division Chinese New Year open house in Bidor. The third leg of the open house marathon continued in the evening when Dr Chua attended the open house of the Tanjung Malim MCA division at SJK(C) Khai Meng in Sungkai at 6pm.
He was joined by state executive councillor Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon and Kampar MP Datuk Lee Chee Leong.
Dr Chua told the crowd that the MCA had solved many problems faced by the Indian community in Sungkai, especially in terms of allocations for various projects, despite having lost the seat in the last general election.
“Vote for the candidate who is sincere in serving the community in the next elections,” he said.
At the last open house he attended in Bidor at about 7pm, Dr Chua said the success of the national-level Chinese New Year celebration in Sitiawan on Saturday was proof of the people’s support for the 1Malaysia concept.
“We are a harmony-loving nation made up of many different ethnic groups,” he said, adding that it was the reason why the Barisan Nasional government had always strived to practise moderation.
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