THERE is no place like home during Christmas.
However, in Pasir Gudang, families from Sarawak get somewhat homesick as Christmas isn’t celebrated grandly.
Forty-five-year-old Francis Jampi, who hails from a village in Sri Aman, Sarawak, said every year at this time, he misses celebrating Christmas with friends and family back home.
“The Christmas atmosphere back home is different. Each house is decorated with trees, lights and decorations and people go around singing carols.
Parents and children enjoying themselves at the Christmas carnival organised by the Calvary Community Church Boulevard. — Photos: THOMAS YONG/The Star
“Nevertheless, we try to celebrate Christmas on a smaller scale, with the many Sarawakian families living in Pasir Gudang.”
The last time he went back home was several years ago as it is not cheap to fly home for the festivities.
“I am saving money now to go back in the next few years,” he said at an outdoor children’s Christmas carnival organised by the Calvary Community Church Boulevard (CCC) in Permas Jaya.
Francis, who has three children aged eight, 13 and 18, says he does odd jobs and was able to earn more in Johor.
“The schools in Johor are also better equipped, so I have to prioritise my children’s future.”
Evelyn Lisa, 30, said she too missed the Christmas celebrations in her village in Betong, Sarawak.
“I have not been back for at least three years, but I have to be with my husband who works as a mechanic in Pasir Gudang,” said Evelyn, a homemaker with two children aged one and 10.
She said the Christmas celebrations organised by the church in Taman Megah Ria was something fun for both children and adults as it provided them an opportunity to catch up with friends and relatives.
Parents signing up for a health talk at the carnival in Permas Jaya.
“We are also thankful for the stationery sets the children received as it will reduce our expenditure when school starts,” she added.
Pastor Reuben Vincent of CCC said about 300 children and parents signed up for the event that had games and balloon animal among its activities.
“There was also a medical talk for adults.
“’We gave out about 300 gift boxes with stationery and toys,” he said, hoping these would bring cheer and help out parents with schoolgoing children.
He said the church had been organising Christmas activities for the community since 2018 and this year, each child was also given a fried chicken meal.
Volunteer Anthony Emms, 67, from Britain, who was at the event with his wife, enjoyed the carnival-like atmosphere.
“’We are happy to see all the smiles, not just on the faces of the kids but also their parents.
“There is a great sense of unity among the people here and I also distributed a special colouring book produced by my daughter Christine Kruse, who is living in Germany,” he said, adding that the book had messages advocating for animal welfare.
