Families make the most of CNY at camp after losing homes

Four Tionghua families usher in Year of the Goat at PLKN camp with family members after floods washed away their homes.

GUA MUSANG: Four Tionghua families who lost their houses in the recent floods celebrated the Chinese New Year in moderate scale at the Etnobotani National Service Training Programme (PLKN) camp here today.

Despite not having a place to call their own, this Chinese New Year was still a joyful event for them as they were still able to celebrate it with each and every member of their families.

Teow Sin Yoon, 63, said although saddened by the fact that he had lost his home in the flood, nothing was more important today than having his children around to celebrate the new year.

“My children returned from outside Kelantan and gathered here to celebrate the new year with us. It’s all that matters,” he told Bernama when met at the camp here today.

Teow’s house in Kampung Baharu Hulu was one of the houses washed away by strong current during the December flood in Kelantan.

Meanwhile, Wee Siok Yan, 63, also admitted that he was deeply saddened that his house was destroyed by the floods, but felt grateful that he and his family were safe and still able to celebrate the new year together.

“Of course the celebration this year is less merrier after we lost the house and have less to spend…but I’m glad we still have each other,” he said.

Lau Boon Seng, 52, on the other hand, said it did not matter whether they were celebrating the new year at their home or the camp because the most important thing was the presence of family members and close relatives at the new year’s dinner.

“Let’s put aside the problems caused by the floods and just celebrate the Chinese New Year with the family,” he said.

- BERNAMA