Penang State Level CNY Open House 6th Feb 2011

The state-level Chinese New Year open house will be held in Balik Pulau, Penang.

The celebration has been scheduled for Feb 6.

Event coordinator and Komtar assemblyman Ng Wei Aik said Balik Pulau had been chosen as it was the southwest district’s turn to house the event.

“The state government has been rotating the celebration among Penang’s five districts.

“In 2009, we had the state-level open house on Campbell Street (in the northeast district) and last year, it was organised in Bukit Mertajam (in central Seberang Prai district).

“This year it will be held in Balik Pulau while next year, festivities will be held in either the north or south Seberang Prai district,” Ng said, after distributing promotional flyers to market-goers.

He said the Balik Pulau celebration would be centred in the vicinity of the Jalan Tun Sardon market complex on Thursday.

“We will have four main areas during the open house — the main stage, folklore art stage, musical opera stage and street performance area.

“All these will be located in front and around the new market complex where the entrance road (separating the market complex from the Rapid Penang depot) will be closed to traffic,” Ng said.


He said among attractions for the event, that would run from 6pm onwards, were acrobatic performances including one featuring a children’s acrobatic troupe from Beijing, ‘mask changing’ performances and ‘Shanghai Night’ dances.

Ng said several schools in the southwest district would also be presenting performances.

“Accomplished local photographer Jimmy Tan will also be visiting the area before the open house and his pictures of famous Balik Pulau sites will be showcased in an exhibition during the event,” he said.

Parents who want to register their children for a colouring/drawing contest and Chinese New Year singing contest that will be held before the start of the open house should call Tan Cheng Oee (019-4521077) or Lim Kheng Seng (019-5650480) by Jan 30.

Ng added that some 30,000 people were expected to attend the event.

“We are asking Rapid Penang to extend its operating hours till midnight on that day and also increase the number of buses heading towards Balik Pulau,” he added.

Penang Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng are expected to attend the event.

Hmm, must be and will be very nice and exciting. Been there before? If you haven't been to this part of the island, it's the right time and opportunity you pay a visit there. Ang pow as well of course!