Festive cheer for all
CHINESE New Year songs were played in the early morning as teachers, staff and students greeted each other with “Gong xi, gong xi.”
SMK Mantin organised the Chinese New Year celebration at the school compound.
An annual event at the school, the celebration kicked of with a calligraphy competition.
Students, teachers and staff of all races took part in the competition.
There were lion dances, a drama, a ribbon dance, wushu demonstration as well as its choir performances and solo singing that were held at the school’s Harmony Hall.
There were about 1,500 students, teachers, staff and Parent-Teacher Association committee members at the celebration.
SMK Mantin principal Norfaimi Mohamad Nor in his speech, said: “It is my wish to see the unity of all the races in our school at the Chinese New Year celebration.”
“I grew up in Kampung Mantin in Negri Sembilan with a Chinese family living next door.
“During the Chinese New Year celebration, they gave me halal food which I could eat such as packet drinks and ground nuts.
“I have learnt the importance of mutual respect for one another and living in a friendly and harmonious atmosphere with all the races,” added Norfaimi.
Head of the Islamic Education Panel, Zaleha Ismail said: “The Chinese New Year celebration has successfully fostered the unity between races.
“Through this celebration, teach- ers and students of other races get to know more about the Chinese culture,” she added.
Form Six physics teacher Wong Chai Yen said it was good to see the students of all races taking part in the calligraphy competition.
At the end of the celebration, all the students, teachers, staff and guests were given mandarin oranges as a symbol of good luck. — By JOSEPHINE ONG