Lim (second row, in grey outfit) waving mini Jalur Gemilang at the Penang Youth Centre. — KT GOH/The Star
FOR the past month, Abbigail Chin, six, practised dance moves in front of her mirror every day after kindergarten.
“She would shake her head and sway her body just like her teachers taught her,” said her mother Poh Wan Ting, a quantity surveyor.
Poh said Abbigail was “over the moon” at the chance to take part in her kindy’s dance performance and had been constantly asking her mother when the day would arrive.
“It was her first time taking part in such a performance.
“Her teachers also taught her patriotic songs in conjunction with National Day and Malaysia Day.
“Abbigail’s favourite song now is ‘Saya Anak Malaysia’ which she has memorised and cannot stop singing,” said Poh.
Dressed in colourful two-piece lengha suits, Abbigail and her five kindergarten mates drew thunderous applause and whistles from the audience as they swayed their hips and danced to the Tamil song “Matura Jila”.
They danced during an event organised by the Padang Kota constituency’s women and family development committee (JPWK).
The event held at the Youth Centre in Lebuh Acheh, George Town, Penang, was in conjunction with Malaysia Day.
Also present to cheer on Abbigail were her brother Benedict, three, and father Chin Yih Hoang, a construction manager.
Yih Hoang said such events helped children experience the concept of a multiracial and multicultural Malaysia.
“Through such events, they begin to learn that although we are different, we are all the same as we come together as Malaysians,” he added.
Retiree Yusof Shafie beamed with pride when his grandson Izz Qaiser Mohd Nizam, seven, performed on stage dressed in a baju Melayu complete with tengkolok (traditional Malay male headgear).
“I made the tengkolok specially for him when he told me about the event as I have some experience stitching songkok and making tengkolok,” he said.
Jasmine Lee, six, went dressed in her cheongsam with her mother Joey Kok.
“This is the first time she is experiencing a Malaysia Day event.
“She was excited to see all the children around her age performing in traditional outfits.
“I am glad I brought her along. She told me that next year she too wants to take part in a performance for Malaysia Day,” said Kok.
Deputy Finance Minister and Tanjong MP Lim Hui Ying, who launched the event, said the young are our country’s most precious asset.
“It is therefore important for us to teach them to embrace our diversity,” she said.
Also present were Padang Kota JPWK chairman Datin Anna Yeoh Phaik Suan and Penang Women’s Development Association president Patimah Kader.
The event saw a variety of performances such as mass dancing, a dikir puteri performance by the St Joseph’s Home children, fashion show and busking.
