Neighbours from left Zahari Abu Alimin, Woo, Rohaizat and Khasthuri work together to make "bintang raya" decoration for Hari Raya at their apartment lobby. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
Residents of different races gather to make Bintang Raya
GEORGE TOWN: In a display of unity and camaraderie, residents of different races of an apartment in Sungai Ara here came together to decorate their living space for the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
With the support and help from the Idaman Lavender Apartment’s Residents’ Association, the residents got together to make their very own “Bintang Raya”.
They have creatively put together 13 one-metre each lanterns and another two, measuring 2m each.
Bintang Raya is a star-shaped lantern that has been popular in Penang since the 1980s.
It is unique to the state as most people in other parts of Malaysia would use the typical oil lamp or pelita as the main decoration for Hari Raya.
Company manager Woo Chun Kai, 43, said the initiative to make the Bintang Raya began even before Ramadan, with the residents collecting money and buying the necessary tools and materials to make the star-shaped lanterns.
“More than 10 of us worked during weekends and in our free time to create the stars from scratch,” he said when met at the apartment block yesterday.
He said the best part of putting together the stars was that none of them knew how to make one.
“Each of us relied on YouTube to make the stars while a few asked friends from a nearby village on how to do the traditional decoration,” said Woo.
Woo’s neighbour Rohaizat Adli Mohammad Tajudin, 35, said the 15 stars would be put up along the public areas at two apartment blocks.
“The objective of doing this is to uphold tradition among our neighbours.
“This is how we embrace the spirit of muhibbah, with each of us contributing our time, creativity and resources, which in turn fosters a better relationship between us,” he said.
Rohaizat Adli said the stars are made of recycled products, and each star has a five pointed-end.
He said the frame of the star is made of bamboo sticks salvaged from old mats and natural bamboo.
The colourful cellophane sheets used on the star frames and the LED bulbs to brightly light up the stars were bought online.
Another resident G. Kasthuri, 48, said she felt fortunate to be part of the community and involved in the initiative.
“Before this, I never knew of such a decoration for Hari Raya, what more to experience making it.
“I am also extremely happy to see the residents of all races coming together to do this in true Malaysian spirit,” she said.
The residents are expected to put up the stars by next week.
The apartment’s Residents’ Association chairman Hasrul Nizal Bab Hashim lauded the effort and described the initiative as a good programme in the spirit of Hari Raya.
“It is heartwarming to see everyone regardless of race and religion get together and take the time and opportunity to create some good vibes in the community,” he said.
He said the programme was a follow-up to a similar one initiated by the residents last month where a group of them held a truly muhibbah Chinese New Year open house.
They collected money among themselves to organise the multi-racial do, which included a lion dance performance with firecrackers.
