Chief Minister calls on young people to keep their traditions alive

If the enthusiasm at the dragon, unicorn and lion dance festival on February 6 is any yardstick, Chinese culture is not only alive and well in Sabah but it is a catalyst for racial unity. About 1,500 ethnic Chinese and non-Chinese youth joined 68 dance troupes to perform at the festival in a spectacular display of love and understanding for one another. And this moved chief minister Musa Aman to remark that such racial unity is a hallmark of Sabah that epitomises prime minister Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia concept.

State officials said the number that made up 39 groups of multi-racial performers exceeded all expectations of the event organised by the United Sabah Chinese Communities Association. It was an annual prelude to the Chinese new year celebrations on February 14 and 15.

In the past, Chinese community leaders lamented that their cultural dances such as those of the lion and dragon would fade into oblivion as Chinese youth were losing interest in them. Instead non-Chinese, particularly the Malays and the native Kadazandusuns, surprisingly took to them enthusiastically. They made up most of the lion dance troupes and drummed up a rhythm with a passion that put many elderly Chinese cultural dance masters to shame.

“I would like more young people to take part in such cultural activities,” Mr Musa told a 10,000-crowd at the Merdeka Padang (independence square) in Kota Kinabalu capital who watched the dances and martial arts displays for two and a half hours. “We must keep our uniqueness.”

He said such cultural events would make youth disciplined as they learn to work harmoniously as a team and become an asset to society.

Such camaraderie had also impressed many foreigners who were there to enjoy the show. “Your culture is very rich and colourful,” said Sebastian Tardy, 29, who flew all the way from his home in Bordeaux, France, to meet his girlfriend in Penampang whom he befriended on the internet a few years ago.

“She is Kadazandusun but I was told that some of her family members celebrate Chinese new year,” he said. “I don’t want to miss that while I’m here.”

The renewed interest in lion dances did not escape Genevieve Simon, 28, of Penampang, who has worked as an administrative assistant in the statistics department of Sabah Tourism for eight years.

“I noticed that the crowd is bigger than last year’s,” she said. “I also noticed many tourists. This is good for tourism.”

For Michael Tham, 26, who was one of the lion dancers of the Kota Kinabalu Hakka Association, it was all for charity. He joined the troupe five years ago and he was looking forward to go visiting from house to house on Chinese new year’s day with his lion dance troupe.

“We get fung pau (red packets of money) to give to our association for charitable work,” he said. “Sometimes we can get 1,000 ringgit ($294) in a day. We don’t get paid for this.”

At the Tanjung Aru Plaza on February 7, Masidi Manjun, Sabah’s minister of tourism, culture and environment, graced a lion dance show to raise 14,000 ringgit for charity. The money was given to organisations such as Bukit Harapan, Seri Mengasih, Sabah Thalassemia Society, Yayasan Suria, Don Bosco and Bakti Harapan.

Victor Lu Heng Long, who led the San Shen Gong dragon and lion dance troupe in the performance, said most of his team of 36 were non-Chinese.

“Strangely Chinese youth aren’t as enthusiastic as the Malays and Kadazandusun in performing the lion and dragon dances,” said Mr Lu, adding that it takes about six months to train as a lion dancer. “We are all volunteers. Joining us is easy. We welcome anyone who is interested in joining our dance troupe.” – Insight Sabah

– Reported by Jenney Juanis and Ng Jia Xiang