Puchong Chinese associations gather for 18th edition of dinner
Over to you: Puchong Jaya Phase 2 Phor Thor Association chairman and Puchong Chinese Association Alliance 2013 Chinese New Year dinner organising chairman Chew Swee Ming (third from left) handing over the baton to Kinrara Section 3 Morning Market Hawkers Association chairman Fong Sea Ken. Looking on is Kow (second from right).
THE 18th edition of the Puchong Chinese Association Alliance's Chinese New Year dinner held at the SJK (C) Yak Chee multi-purpose hall in Puchong was a festive affair as members and friends gathered for the event which is the highlight of the alliance's social calendar.
"The alliance serves as an umbrella body to represent the Chinese community-orientated associations in Puchong," said Puchong Chinese Association Alliance president Dr Kow Cheong Wei.
"The members include religious bodies, business associations, schools and NGOs. There are currently 43 alliance members altogether, although only 27 are registered associations.
"The alliance was formed when these associations felt there was a need to have a platform for them to communicate and gather, and to unite the associations under a single body."
Dr Kow said the Puchong Chinese Association Alliance held several meetings a year to discuss and seek opinions on issues affecting the Puchong Chinese community.
"Some of the issues we highlighted have been resolved, such as the construction of Chinese schools, LRT line and fire station. A garbage dumping issue was also resolved after it was raised by the alliance," he said.
"The alliance helps to coordinate dates during the Hungry Ghost Festival month to ensure that there are no overlaps, disseminates information on members' events and steps in to help when Chinese schools in Puchong need donations or organise events."
The first alliance Chinese New Year dinner was held in 1996 and it is hosted and organised by different association members each year.
Chinese tradition: Wong (fourth from left), Kow (fourth from right) and other alliance committee members tossing yee sang during the dinner.
The 2013 dinner was hosted by the Puchong Jaya Phase 2 Phor Thor Association and the 2014 dinner will be hosted by the Kinrara Section 3 Morning Market Hawkers Association.
This year's dinner featured a lion dance performance, an appearance by the god of prosperity, as well as songs and dances.
The guests of honour were Puchong MCA chairman Datuk Wong Hock Aun, Puchong parliamentary liaison officer Datuk Loo Yeng Peng and Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo.
In his speech, Dr Kow expressed hope that the leaders from both sides of the political divide, particularly those contesting in Puchong, would conduct a gentleman's battle during the coming general election.
"Candidates from Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat should not resort to dirty tactics, sabotage each other or create issues that will confuse the people," he said.
Wong said he had been alerted on two issues that concerned the Puchong Chinese community.
"It was recently announced that the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) crematorium located at 14th Mile, Puchong, has been completed and would begin operations soon," he said.
"However, some people have complained via social media that they do not want the hearse passing by the residential area at the 14th Mile, Puchong.
"I will discuss the issue with MPSJ and convey the residents' request to divert traffic or have a different access road for the hearse."
Following the state government's announcement that they had identified 809.4ha of land in Kuala Langat, Sepang, Hulu Langat and Kuala Selangor for cemeteries, Wong said he hoped that they would disclose the exact location of the cemeteries soon.
"There is a demand for burial ground space in Puchong since the proposed cemetery project at the Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve was cancelled and the site re-gazetted as a forest reserve," he said.
-The Star-
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