Next month's tea-serving ceremony to celebrate Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's 93rd birthday will not be as controversial as the one carried out in 2001, according to the Kuala Lumpur Chinese Assembly Hall (KLCAH).

KLCAH president Chai Kee Kan told Malaysiakini that none of them would kneel before the prime minister.

“The ceremony will be simple. It shows respect for the elderly. I believe this won't cause controversy.

“The ceremony will involve children serving the prime minister and his wife (Dr Siti Hasmah Ali) tea,” he added.

The event will take place on July 22 at a restaurant in Pudu, Kuala Lumpur, and is expected to involve 2,000 guild representatives. Each table will cost RM500.

Meanwhile, Federation Of Malaysia Chinese Guilds Association's lifetime honorary president Liew Poon Siak said performers at the event will include primary school dancers and a university choir.

In addition, he said 25 patrons have pledged to donate a total of RM100,000 for Tabung Harapan Malaysia on that night.

Liew said he personally secured Mahathir's agreement to participate in the event earlier this month and it was the Prime Minister's Office which chose the date.

He said the Chinese guilds wished to show their respect to Mahathir, who despite his advanced age, managed to lead Pakatan Harapan to victory in the general election.

“It’s incredible. He could endure suffering to bring change. It shows fortitude.

“The vitality of the prime minister and his wife is a cause for celebration. We also want to wish for peace in Malaysia,” he added.

The association had courted flak over its 2001 tea-serving ceremony for Mahathir during his first tenure as prime minister, with DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang describing it as “redolent with psychological feudalism."

Whereas MCA criticised the organisers for dressing up two school children in Manchurian outfits complete with pigtails.

Malaysian Chinese are mostly of Han descent, who were ruled by the Manchurian installed Qing Dynasty until World War II.