A midnight gift
The first New Year goodie was delivered at the stroke of midnight, when toll collection was abolished in four areas – Batu Tiga and Sungai Rasau in Selangor, Bukit Kayu Hitam in Kedah and the Eastern Dispersal Link in Johor – in line with the Prime Minist
PETALING JAYA: Malaysians of all races welcomed 2018 with countdown parties throughout the country.
Revellers thronged popular spots nationwide, including KLCC, Bukit Bintang and Putrajaya, to usher in the new year.
At Dataran Putrajaya, visitors watched the colourful lights dancing across buildings at the Festival Light and Motion (Lampu).
A 10-minute-long musical fireworks display brightened up the skies over the KLCC Park as the clock struck midnight, while more fireworks shows were held at i-City in Shah Alam and other locations.
In George Town, pomp and gaiety were the order of the day.
Many were seen immersing themselves in the music at the “M Mall O2O 2017 Countdown Concert” at Penang Times Square.
International sensation Happy Polla of Thailand and Faye Chen, the lead vocalist of Taiwanese Rock Band F.I.R, sent the crowd into euphoria with their performances.
At the promenade at the Straits Quay Retail Marina in Tanjung Tokong, the highlight of the day was the “LED Brazilian Samba Dance”.
The celebration finally reached a crescendo at midnight where a spectacular prism of colours illuminated the skyline during a six-minute fireworks display.
Gurney Paragon Mall released some 2,000 balloons to ring in 2018.
Over in Johor Baru, hundreds of people participated in the Festivities @ IIBD, the yearend celebration organised by the Johor Baru City Council.
Local celebrities such as Zainal Abidin, Alif Kadim and Eza as well as the local council’s very own combo band gave the crowd a treat.
The celebration, which began at 3pm, also saw an exhibition of some 30 vintage cars.
Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar graced the event earlier in the evening.
Among the merrymakers was Fadzilah Kassim, 49, who said that she hoped 2018 would bring her family business to greater success.
“Despite facing many challenges caused by the rising cost of living, my family and I are looking forward to expand our nasi lemak business by opening more stalls in the city,” she said.
An Indonesian who wanted to be known only as Edie, 35, said he was looking forward to work extra hours in 2018 as he wanted to earn more money to be sent back to his family back home.
“I started working as a labourer here since three years ago. My main motivation is to support my family.
“But apart from that, I am also hoping to spend more time with my family back in Indonesia,” he said.
In Ipoh, rain failed to deter revellers from converging at the statelevel new year countdown at Dataran Ipoh where dance, music and fireworks took centre stage.