Press & Reviews

The Star - Wednesday, 28 February 2007
By Ong Yee Ting

A flurry of festive activities

A LIVELY 'silver lion' dance, 'God of Prosperity' appearance, Chinese drum performance and break dance - these and other activities thrilled visitors to the Little Penang Street Market held in Upper Penang Road.

They were held to mark the Hokkien New Year celebration. Many foreign visitors were drawn to take part in the various activities.There were the usual stalls set up selling all types of interesting stuff ranging from food to clothes, accessories to handicraft.

HOKKIEN JOY:The God of Wealth accompanied by a Silver Lion wishing the crowd "A Happy and Prosperous New Year."

A bubbly man was dressed in a red robe as the God of Prosperity and he walked around the pedestrian mall, happily giving away pink papers with auspicious Chinese verses to visitors.

Besides the lion dance, a Chinese drum performance by young members from the Jing Ying Sports and Cultural Club and a break dance by the Crazy Virus dance group, the famous Hokkien podcast pioneer John Ong was also there.

"Men pai say (don't be shy)," he kept on saying while encouraging Penangites to join him to play games of naming body parts and food in Hokkien.

Curios for the curious:Many foreigners are attracted to the knicknacks on sale at Little Penang Street Market held on the last Sunday of each month

The Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Kungfu Club members won thunderous applause from the crowd with some Tai chi and Shaolin kungfu moves.

And then there were six active students from La Salle Learning Centre who showed off their dan-cing skills.
In his opening speech, state Tourism Development and Environ-ment Committee chairman Teng Chang Yeow said that due to costs constraint, the Little Penang Street Market could only be held once a month.

"Even when it is held monthly, more than RM100,000 is needed but we are happy to see the organisers willing to hold it to better promote our arts and culture," he said.

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