CHINESE community leaders believe the Covid-19 pandemic will not wipe out customs and traditions as restrictions to curb infections look set to dampen coming Lunar New Year celebrations.  

They said online reunions and following strict rules that bans in-person gatherings were only a temporary measure during the pandemic. 

Under the government’s Chinese New Year SOP, lion dance performances will be prohibited during the new year festivities this year. Reunion dinners and family gatherings have also been limited.

Over the course of the past year, many Chinese festivities and cultural celebrations have been curtailed, as with the case with all other communities, to curb the spread of Covid-19

Junior Chamber International (JCI) Kuala Lumpur Mandarin president Chong Hian Loong said many club activities were done online, including festivals and celebrations.

During the Dragon Boat Festival last year, JCI KL Mandarin – a grassroots movement for youngsters – held a workshop on how to make sticky rice dumplings, a traditional Chinese dish made of glutinous rice stuffed with different fillings and wrapped in bamboo leaves.

Despite the “cold” season, participants still felt the “warmth” through these online events, he said.

For this year, JCI KL Mandarin distributed masks and hand sanitisers to the elderly and raised awareness on self-protection in preparation for Chinese New Year.

Celebrations go on 

Former deputy director of the Centre for Malaysian Chinese Studies, Tang Ah Chai, told The Malaysian Insight that Malaysia is one of the countries where Chinese customs and rituals are well preserved.

Tang, who researches Chinese Malaysian history, said even the tomb-sweeping festival (Qingming) was done online last year for the first time in history.

He said the Chinese loved communal living and festivals. It is a habit for the Chinese to gather, whether for happy or sad occasions, he added.

“I believe that after the pandemic eases, online celebrations will return to offline,” Tang said.

Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) president Tan Yew Sing said the digitalisation of society was unstoppable, and that was good thing.

During the last Mid-Autumn Festival, families in Malaysia reunited with overseas relatives through video calls.

“Online festivals provide convenience and an alternative during the pandemic.

“Traditional festivals and customs will not lose cultural conservancy and traditional values through digitalisation.

“What is temporarily lacking is the ceremonial sense and the food-sharing.”

He believed that online festivals were just a buffer. 

Associations and chambers of commerce will resume traditional festival activities after the pandemic, he added. 

Electronic “ang pao” 

Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) chief executive Ooi Heng said though it was difficult to gather for celebrations as the pandemic rages, small family dos were still happening.

“This transformation is due to the pandemic, it is not necessarily for the long-term. After the pandemic, everything will return to normal, the traditional festival customs will not disappear.”

Though, Ooi added that technology did infiltrate some traditional customs, for example, the popularity of electronic wallets has influenced some Chinese to transfer online “ang pao” in the New Year.

Tang, the Chinese researcher, agreed. He said China has become accustomed to using the WeChat application to send New Year greetings and electronic “ang pao”.

“However, Malaysia is still behind. We are not ready to enter this stage yet. Perhaps the electronic ang pao’s are the future trend, but Malaysians still believe the custom should be done face-to-face.”

As a millennial, Chong believed that social media communication was common among those born in the 1990s and early 2000s. 

“In a few years, it may become popular in Malaysia, but the ceremony of sending ‘ang pao’s with blessings will not be cancelled. I will definitely pass it on to my children.”

The National Security Council has issued the latest restriction order SOP that social gatherings are prohibited.

The public is not allowed to hold any formal and informal ceremonies such as banquets, weddings, acceptance and birthdays. – February 8, 2021.