Season of giving comes alive
Malls deck the halls with Christmas colours
GEORGE TOWN: With less than a month to go before Christmas, some shopping malls are getting into the spirit of the season.
Christmas magic sparkles across the Straits Quay Retail Marina in Penang where patrons have much to enjoy till the end of the year.
Giant glistening baubles and holly boughs adorn every corner, all lit up for the first time during the mall’s Christmas launch ceremony.
This was held at the Straits Court together with its annual Christmas Charity Bazaar offering festive delicacies, gifts and more.
Crowds were seen snapping up items from many of the 58 stalls, manned by a mix of commercial vendors and charitable organisations.
Bazaar organising chairman Marlene Fox said it was a good way for these charities to reach out and receive donations from the public.
Eastern and Oriental (E&O) Bhd projects and property senior manager Wong Siew Hui said the group was highly supportive of the cause.
“In Straits Quay, we share the same mission with these organisations, that is touching the lives of communities we operate in, especially the needy and underprivileged.
“This is the core spirit of Christmas that we wish to share and spread,” she added during the ceremony .
State Environment, Welfare and Caring Society Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said this spirit of sharing and caring was vital for the community.
Phee later joined Wong, Fox, E&O group strategy and communications assistant general manager Ann Tan, and other event partners in lighting up the decorations.
The mall also handed over a RM3,000 donation to the International Women’s Association (IWA).
Meanwhile, the Children’s Protection Society, Women’s Welfare Council, Penang Shan Children’s Home and Handicapped Children Centre were gifted with books, toys and other goodies.
The crowd present at the launch were also serenaded by Yuletide carols by the International Children’s Community Choir, and several solo numbers by Fox.
Completing the line-up of entertainment were a Latin ballroom dance performance, and a routine by kids from Shan.