Chinese New Year Celebration Takes Place in Sunway Campus
Sunway University’s Chinese Independent School Alumni Club (CISA) organised its 4th Chinese New Year celebration and welcomed the Year of Dog with a day of celebration. Themed “Tuan Yuan Fun”, the annual festive celebration hopes to bring the meaning of Chinese New Year tradition where families gather around for a reunion dinner.
Students from different backgrounds gathered together and experience the tastes, sounds and traditions of Chinese New Year. The festive celebration started with a Lion Dance performance by CISA members, followed by a Dragon Dance performance by students of Chung Hwa High School, Klang.
Lion dance performance
The committee of the celebration also present a play that tells a story of three male characters who had an argument with their mother and move out from their home, and later realised the warmth of being at home with loved ones on the eve of Chinese New Year. The play also incorporated the performance of 24 Festive Drums and Chinese Orchestra in the story.
Amanda Chan Siew Yi, one of the four event leaders for the festive celebration and Vice-President of the CISA club said, “We hope that through the festive celebration, the public will get a better understanding on Chinese culture and traditions.”
“Through the play, we want to encourage everyone, especially those who are working or studying abroad to go back home for reunion dinner and spend more time with their loves one,” said Amanda.
Other performance throughout the day included Diabolo, magic show, Witz dance showcase, cheerleading, and a performance by ASTRO All Stars Geraldine Gan and William Tan. A total of five game booths and 8 exhibition booths were set up to promote Chinese culture and traditions including Chinese Family Name, Chinese Paper Cutting, Chinese Calligraphy, and Chinese Knotting.
From left: Shim Boon Haw, Lee Siok Ping, Teo Ee Sing, Dr Lee Weng Keng, Dr Elizabeth Lee, Professor Graeme Wilkinson, Professor Pua Eng Chong and Goh Chin Poh tossing “Yee Sang” at the opening of the celebration.
Eileen Kor Phei Ling, CISA club advisor commended the committees and helpers for their unwavering commitment into making the festive celebration a success. “In compare to previous years, this year’s celebration is bigger. I am very gratified for the efforts they put in, despite the challenges they faced, they do not give up and work hard to overcome the challenges,” said Eileen.
Present in the festive celebration were Dr Lee Weng Keng, Chief Executive Officer, Education and Healthcare Division, Sunway Group; Dr Elizabeth Lee, Senior Executive Director of the Sunway Education Group and Sunway University; Professor Graeme Wilkinson, Vice-Chancellor; Professor Pua Eng Chong, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Sunway University; Teo Ee Sing, Executive Director of Sunway College; Lee Siok Ping, Director of Student LIFE, Sunway Education Group; Shim Boon Haw, Director of Student Affairs Department, Dong Zong and Goh Chin Poh, Founder of CISA club.
This year’s celebration also marked the 8th year of the establishment of the Chinese Independent School Alumni (CISA) club. In conjunction with its 8th anniversary, CISA will organise more activities to give back to society, these include a leadership camp to guide students from Chinese Independent School and alumni bonding for former members of CISA.
Established in 8 February 2010, the Club had grown from less than 20 members to almost 500 members in 2018. The Club, which aims to provide a platform for students from Chinese Independent School to interact and promote Chinese cultures, has hosted various activities throughout the years including orientation for new students from Chinese Independent School and sports activities.
