SIMANGGANG: The Chang (Bak Chang) Competition Ceremony, organised by the Sri Aman District Chinese Community and Village Chiefs (KMKK) Association, was held at the Sri Aman District Council (MDSA) Mini Stadium here recently in conjunction with the Duan Wu 2024 Celebration.
Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development, Datuk Francis Harden Hollis was present to officiate at the event.
In his speech, Harden urged the younger generation to appreciate their own cultures as these are symbols of a community’s origin and journey to the present day.
“I thank the association for successfully organising the event as a platform to unite the community and also as an example for associations to know the origins of each ethnic group,” he said.
At the ceremony, he had the opportunity to present Minor Rural Project (MRP) cheques to 14 Chinese community committees in Simanggang, amounting to RM5,000 each, totalling RM70,000, to be used by the association to cover activity costs.
In the meantime, Pemanca Lee Siang Hua, who is the association chairman said he extended his gratitude to the participants from 14 groups who took part in the Chang-making competition and thanked the judges who evaluated the competition.
For the record, the event also included the distribution of food hampers to 65 needy families, with each of the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) selecting five families from the 13 invited Chinese JKKKs, showing the concern of the association for families in need.
The Chang celebration commemorates a Chinese warrior, Qu Yuan, who was slandered and drowned himself in the Miluo River. The villagers, upon learning that the warrior had jumped into the river, searched for him but failed. The villagers wrapped Chang and threw it into the river so that Qu Yuan’s body would not be eaten by fish. The Chang Festival falls on May 5 each year.
The celebration is held as a sacrifice in defending the country’s sovereignty and strengthening unity among multi-ethnic communities so that everyone can enjoy harmony and prosperity.
