GEORGE TOWN – The pandemic era saw another watershed moment when the Kek Lok Si Temple launched its annual lighting ceremony virtually online for the first time, with only the organising committee and a few VIPs present at the launching near Penang Hill here.
Up to 5,000 people, including Penangites living aboard, witnessed the ceremony on Facebook Live when the sprawling temple complex, famed for its shelter for turtles, turned into a fairyland of neon lights last night.
Thousands of Chinese lanterns were also lit up, each one marking a wish from a resident in Penang for what the Year of the Ox should entail for them.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, who was among a handful of dignitaries present, praised the temple for observing the standard operating procedures and using the online platform.
“We thank the Kek Lok Si Temple for broadcasting the lighting ceremony online so that the public can also witness the ceremony from their home.
“Covid-19 has disrupted our lives. We are happy that the temple has decided to continue with the annual lighting ceremony,” Chow said.
He also updated the people here on the latest Chinese New Year SOPs by the federal government, saying that reunion dinners can now be observed by the community, but are limited only to 15 family members living within a 10km radius.
He urged everyone to adhere to the SOPs to break the Covid-19 infection chain, expressing his dismay that the number of infections has risen considerably over the weekend.
Penang registered 205 positive cases yesterday, the second consecutive day it breached the 200 mark with a grand total of 8,691 cases.
Former finance minister Lim Guan Eng, who is the Air Putih assemblyman, said that he hopes Malaysia will recover from the pandemic quickly so it can return to prosperity. – The Vibes, February 8, 2021
