On January 24, 2025, the "2025 Year of the Snake Papar Chinese New Year Night Market Celebration," organised by the Papar Chinese Chamber of Commerce and co-organised by the Confucius Institute at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (CI@UMS), concluded successfully in a festive atmosphere.
The celebration integrated traditional culture, a feast of delicacies, captivating performances, and joyful interactions, allowing the public to share the joy and blessings of the Chinese New Year. Local primary and secondary schools performed traditional Chinese songs, dances, and instrumental pieces. CI@UMS led the UMS 24-Festive Drum Troupe in a performance. Additionally, CI@UMS also organised volunteers from various ethnic groups from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSK) to set up booths promoting the HSK exam and showcasing traditional Chinese crafts such as paper-cutting and Chinese knotting.
Mr. Cheoh High Weal, President of the Papar Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the event, delivered a welcoming speech. YB Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living of Malaysia and Member of Parliament for Papar, officiated the opening ceremony as the guest of honour. The directors of CI@UMS joined the guest of honour and other guests on stage for the party popper pulling session and presented a Chinese ink painting titled “Auspicious Clouds Rising from the East” to YB Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
By participating in this event, the members of CI@UMS deeply experienced the grand celebration of the Chinese New Year by the diverse communities in Papar and witnessed the cultural harmony in Sabah. They also gained a profound understanding of the significance of contributing to such an event.
