YOURSAY 'If Chap Goh Meh is as important as Thaipusam, then please declare it a national public holiday. Maybe then BN might swing some votes.'

PKR run on Chap Goh Meh 'disrespects Chinese culture'

your say Tailek: I am Chinese and I don't feel my culture has been disrespected by this 10km run in Penang on Chap Goh Meh. Anyone can participate if they want to, be they Malay, Chinese, Indian or any other race.

Chap Goh Meh is a happy time and we can have any and all kinds of activities on the day, even a marathon.

Ally Meme: BN Youth chief Oh Tong Keong cannot tell the difference between a cultural and a religious event. Chap Goh Meh is a celebration for the end of the Chinese New Year festivities - it has no religious connotation and no specific taboos.

You can organise anything you want and that will have no bearing on the celebrations of the end of the festive period. To be flippant though, a 10km rum may actually facilitate young people to meet, leading to love and marriage.

Oscar Kilo: Chap Goh Meh is not comparable to Thaipusam. You should be comparing the eve or first day or second day of Chinese New Year with Thaipusam.

Chap Goh Meh is not even a public holiday. It is more of a social event - youngsters might even like the idea of running to catch their future life partner, instead of throwing and catching oranges.

Tim'sTime: During Thaipusam, many Hindus participate in rituals and worship in temples. It is a public holiday so that the Hindus can perform them, while Chap Goh Meh is a celebration of the 15th day of the Chinese New Year.

There is no compulsory ritual compared to Thaipusam and throwing of oranges is only a cultural tradition for the singles who wish to look for a husband or wife.

This tradition is taken more for the fun of it, compared to the serious nature of Thaipusam where fasting and prayers are a must. BN is ignorant and doesn't know the significance of both the occasions, thus making a mockery of themselves.

ACR: Many have commented on the religious significance of Thaipusam. But there was also the logistic issue of the Penang Run being held on Thaipusam Day as the location of the Thaipusam festival and chariot procession follows a fixed route and the Penang Run was supposed to cut through that route.

With regard to Chap Goh Meh, millions would not be congregating at one spot to throw oranges. This is all politics and idiocy combined for Penang BN Youth.

Louis: Oh Tong Kang, this is not an issue. As a Chinese, I don't feel offended. The funny thing is that your party is not offended when former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad called your ancestors ‘pendatang haram'.

Fair&Just: They are making a mountain out of a mole hill on such small tiny issue, while the Chinese are deemed troublemakers in the ‘Tanda Putera' movie. Is there any comment from these people on the screening of that movie? Not even a squeak.

Wira: Oh Tong Keong, I think BN leaders have gone cuckoo. The run on Chap Goh Meh insults no Chinese, except those Chinese BN leaders in Penang who are now seen to be mentally challenged.

Now don't again spin that Penang Run on Thaipusam story, because it was first spun by BN to attack the state government based on a lie that the state had organised that event, when it was later revealed that some Gerakan leaders were involved in it.

That was the reason why Komtar representative Ng Wei Aik went protesting in front of the Gerakan HQ. I am certain most Penang voters still remember the true situation. And I shall not fail to remind them constantly.

Perakian: Gerakan is a joke. I wonder how much they really understand Chinese culture. Please go and check whether throwing oranges is really an ancient and traditional Chinese activity.

Anonymous #02382443 : To those who are childish and totally out of focus (both sides of the divide), what has the marathon got to do with the festivities or celebrations? Does it mean that it should preclude others from organising other events?

Anonymous #43051382: Chap Goh Meh is held at night - ‘meh' means night. The run is held in the daytime (cha khi). It would in fact make the 15th day merrier. It is not a religious festival, mind you.

Ex-wfw: Another uproar over a non-issue; even among the Chinese not everyone stays at home to observe Chap Goh Meh or they may take the occasion to celebrate. What is so wrong with that?

The more you bark on such minor issues, the more people think you are trying to cover up the corruption that is associated with BN.

Gerakan, you are digging a deeper hole for BN. Please grow up and until you do, forget about wanting to lead the country.

Gobsmacked : I think this is much ado about nothing. Oh Tong Keong should grow up and stop acting like a child. He is opposing for the sake of opposing and engaging in a tit-for-tat with DAP. He should spend his time more usefully and productively.

All this quibbling is not going to do BN any good, it just wastes everybody's time. Accept the fact that Penang is lost to BN for good. The more you quibble, the higher the majority for Pakatan in the elections. Who knows, Umno may even lose some of its seats.

Lionking: By the way, you can also throw oranges while you are running, and who knows you might get the person you dreamed of for marriage. Enjoy the run and please stop giving everything a political spin.

Anonymous #64778106: Who was it who organised the run on Thaipusam? They made noise accusing DAP but it back fired on themselves.

Vote4Change: If Chap Goh Meh is as important as Thaipusam, then please declare it a national public holiday. Maybe with this, BN might swing some votes.

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