Today is the seventh day of the Chinese New Year of the Tiger. The seventh day is a special day as it is regarded as the birthday of all humankind.

But for restaurant owner Ong King Huat, 69, driver Tan Yau Chai, 56, and his wife Tee Sor Huay, 55, sawmill contractor Tan Chi, 60, and Yen Kook, 78, the 'birthday' had great significance.

bn pandanmaran cny open house 1 For it was on this birthday that all these residents of Kampung Baru Pandamaran - the second oldest Chinese new village in the country - had a special visitor - Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Najib and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, made the visit in conjunction with the national-level Chinese New Year open house at the village, home to about 20,000 people, the majority of whom are Chinese.

King Huat, who has been living at the new village for 32 years, owns the Choon Keng Seafood Restaurant which Najib visited.

The prime minister also called on the homes of Yen Kook, Yau Chai and Tan Chi in Jalan Kacang, not far from Jalan Chan Ah Choo where the open house was held.

bn pandanmaran cny open house visit people 2 MCA president Ong Tee Keat, MIC president S Samy Vellu and Gerakan president Dr Koh Tsu Koon also accompanied Najib on the visit to the village.

The open house this year is being held at a new village under the 1Malaysia concept of bringing the leaders closer to the people.

Klang MCA division vice-chairman Francis Hua Lai Hock said 85 percent of the residents of Kampung Baru Pandamaran were Chinese, nine percent were Malay and six percent were Indian and other races.

‘Angpows’ for orphans, disabled

After spending some time with the four families, Najib and his delegation proceeded to Jalan Chan Ah Choo where they were greeted by performing lion dancers and a drum performance of the various races.

bn pandanmaran cny open house 3 Everyone then sang the national anthem, NegaraKu, and were entertained to dances by artistes from Istana Budaya on the goodwill theme, with all of them adorned in the traditional attire of the various ethnic communities in the country, as well as songs rendered by local singers, and performances by the dragon dancers and the Sokogakai arts group.

The less fortunate were not forgotten. Najib handed out ‘ang pow’ (reds packets containing money) to orphans and the disabled.

- Bernama

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