Tag Archives: Chinese New Year

2023 Public + School Holidays For Malaysia!

To help you plan your holidays in the new year, here is a summary of the public and school holidays in Malaysia for 2023!

Updated @ 2023-04-20 : Added extra public holiday for Hari Raya 2023.
Updated @ 2023-04-11 : Added extra school holiday for Hari Raya 2023.
Updated @ 2023-04-07 : Added extra school holidays for 2023 / 2024 school term.
Originally posted @ 2023-01-02

2023 Public Holidays For Malaysia

Here are the public holidays for Malaysia in the year 2023. Some of these days may be subject to change.

Date	Day	Holiday	States
1 Jan	Sun	New Year’s Day	All states except Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis and Terengganu
2 Jan	Mon	New Year’s Day	All states except Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu
14 Jan	Sat	YDPB Negeri Sembilan’s Birthday	Negeri Sembilan
22 Jan 23 Jan	Sun Mon	Chinese New Year	All states
24 Jan	Tue	Chinese New Year	All states except Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu
1 Feb	Wed	Federal Territory Day	Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, Putrajaya
5 Feb	Sun	Thaipusam	Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Perak, Putrajaya and Selangor
6 Feb	Mon	Thaipusam	Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Putrajaya and Selangor
18 Feb	Sat	Israk and Mikraj	Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Perlis and Terengganu
19 Feb	Sun	Israk and Mikraj	Terengganu
4 Mar 5 Mar	Sat Sun	Accession Anniversary of Terengganu Sultan	Terengganu
23 Mar	Thu	Awal Ramadan	Johor, Kedah and Melaka
23 Mar	Thu	Johor Sultan’s Birthday	Johor
7 Apr	Fri	Good Friday	Sabah and Sarawak
8 Apr	Sat	Nuzul al-Quran	All states except Johor, Kedah, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Sabah and Sarawak
9 Apr	Sun	Nuzul al-Quran	Kelantan and Terengganu
15 Apr	Sat	Declaration of Melaka as a Historical City	Melaka
21 Apr 22 Apr 23 Apr	Fri Sat Sun	Hari Raya Aidilfitri	All states
24 Apr	Mon	Hari Raya Aidilfitri	All states except Johor + Kedah
26 Apr	Wed	Sultan of Terengganu’s Birthday	Terengganu
1 May	Mon	Labour Day	All states
4 May	Thu	Wesak Day	All states
17 May	Wed	Raja of Perlis’ Birthday	Perlis
22 May	Mon	Hari Hol Pahang	Pahang
30 May 31 May	Tue Wed	Harvest Festival	Labuan and Sabah
1 Jun 2 Jun	Thu Fri	Hari Gawai	Sarawak
5 Jun	Mon	YDP Agong’s Birthday	All states
18 Jun	Sun	Sultan of Kedah’s Birthday	Kedah
28 Jun	Wed	Arafat Day	Kedah and Terengganu
29 Jun	Thu	Hari Raya Haji	All states
30 Jun	Fri	Hari Raya Haji	Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis and Terengganu
7 Jul	Fri	Georgetown World Heritage City Day	Penang
8 Jul	Sat	Penang Governor’s Birthday	Penang
19 Jul	Wed	Awal Muharram	All states
22 Jul	Sat	Sarawak Day	Sarawak
30 Jul 31 Jul	Sun Mon	Sultan of Pahang’s Birthday	Pahang
23 Aug	Wed	Hari Hol Almarhum Sultan Iskandar	Johor
24 Aug	Thu	Melaka Governor’s Birthday	Melaka
31 Aug	Thu	Merdeka Day	All states
16 Sep	Sat	Malaysia Day	All states
17 Sep	Sun	Malaysia Day	Kelantan and Terengganu
28 Sep	Thu	Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday	All states
7 Oct	Sat	Sabah Governor’s Birthday	Sabah
14 Oct	Sat	Sarawak Governor’s Birthday	Sarawak
3 Nov	Fri	Sultan of Perak’s Birthday	Perak
11 Nov	Sat	Sultan of Kelantan’s Birthday	Kelantan
12 Nov 13 Nov	Sun Mon	Sultan of Kelantan’s Birthday	Kelantan
12 Nov	Sun	Deepavali	All states except Sarawak
13 Nov	Mon	Deepavali	All states except Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Sarawak and Terengganu
11 Dec	Mon	Sultan of Selangor’s Birthday	Selangor
24 Dec	Sun	Christmas Eve	Sabah
25 Dec	Mon	Christmas Day	All states
26 Dec	Tue	Christmas Holiday	Sabah

2023 School Holidays For Malaysia

The COVID-19 pandemic has thoroughly screwed up the school term and holidays. Instead of starting in January and ending in December, the new term now starts in March and every year will have two “academic years”.

This is quite confusing for many of us parents, so here is a quick summary of the school holidays for the year 2023.

Read more : 2023 / 2024 Malaysia School Term + Holiday Calendar!

Group A Schools

Here are the school holidays for Group A states of Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.

Holiday	Start	End	Days
2022 Year End Holiday	17 Feb	18 Mar	30
2023 Mid-Term 1 Holiday	21 Apr	29 Apr	9
2023 End-Term 1 Holiday	26 May	3 Jun	9
2023 Term 2 Holiday	25 Aug	2 Sep	9
2023 Term 3 Holiday	15 Dec	1 Jan	18

In addition, the government also announced these extra holidays for Group A schools:

Festival Holidays	Group A	Notes
Chinese New Year	Sunday to Tuesday, 22 to 24 January 2023	1 extra day
Hari Raya Aidilfitri	Wednesday, 19 April 2023 Thursday, 20 April 2023	2 extra days
Hari Raya Qurban	Wednesday, 28 June 2023	1 extra day
Hari Deepavali	Sunday, 12 November 2023 Monday, 13 November 2023	Public Holiday 1 extra day

Group B Schools

Here are the school holidays for Group A states of Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya.

Holiday	Start	End	Days
2022 Year End Holiday	18 Feb	19 Mar	30
2023 Mid-Term 1 Holiday	22 Apr	30 Apr	9
2023 End-Term 1 Holiday	27 May	4 Jun	9
2023 Term 2 Holiday	26 Aug	3 Sep	9
2023 Term 3 Holiday	16 Dec	1 Jan	17

In addition, the government also announced these extra holidays for Group B schools:

Festival Holidays	Group B	Notes
Chinese New Year	Friday to Tuesday, 20 to 24 January 2023	1 extra day
Hari Raya Aidilfitri	Wednesday, 19 April 2023 Thursday, 20 April 2023 Friday, 21 April 2023	3 extra days
Pesta Kaamatan	Only for Sabah + Labuan Tuesday, 30 May 2023 Wednesday, 31 May 2023	2 extra days
Hari Gawai Dayak	Only for Sarawak Thursday, 1 June 2023 Friday, 2 June 2023	2 extra days
Hari Raya Qurban	Wednesday, 28 June 2023 Thursday, 29 June 2023	2 extra days
Hari Deepavali	Except Sarawak Monday, 13 November 2023 Tuesday, 14 November 2023	Replacement 1 extra day
Hari Deepavali	Only for Sarawak Monday, 13 November 2023	1 extra day
Chinese New Year	Friday, 9 February 2024 Saturday, 10 February 2024 Sunday, 11 February 2024 Monday, 12 February 2024	1 extra day Public holiday Public holiday Replacement

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World of Warships : Get FREE Year of the Rabbit DLC!

The Year of the Rabbit Camouflage Collection DLC for World of Warships is FREE to download and keep!

Find out how to get it FREE, and make sure you TELL your friends!

Don’t forget to LIKE the Tech ARP Facebook page or Telegram channel to get these updates quickly!

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Immerse yourself in thrilling naval battles and assemble an armada of over 400 ships from the first half of the 20th century — from stealthy destroyers to gigantic battleships.

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PLAY SOLO OR WITH FRIENDS
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World of Warships : Free Year of the Rabbit Camouflage Collection!

World of Warships wishes you a happy Lunar New Year with a colorful gift to brighten up your day (and the hulls of your ships!).

Download this DLC to receive a pack with some of the most beautiful and iconic expendable camouflages in the game, all inspired by East Asian folk art, culture, and cuisine: the vibrant new Dumpling, mesmerizing Spring Sky, majestic Asian Lantern, intricate Mosaic, and bold Dragon Boat!

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This time-exclusive DLC can only be unlocked with World of Warships game accounts created through Steam.

World of Warships + Year of the Rabbit DLC : How To Get ‘Em FREE!

Make sure you follow these steps to get the Year of the Rabbit Camouflage Collection for FREE, before 3 AM CET on 2 February 2023!

Please note that this DLC requires you to have the World of Warships base game in your Steam account, to get it for free.

Log into your existing Steam account, or create a new account.
Go to the World of Warships page on Steam.
Click on the Play Game button.
Go to the FREE Year of the Rabbit Camouflage Collection page on Steam.
Click on the Add to Account button.

That’s it! Both the base game and the free New Year Camo Collection are now in your Steam account, and you can download and install it anytime you want!

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CNY 2023 : Lorry Ban + Court For Traffic Offenders!

Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke just announced a lorry ban, and that seven major offences will be non-compoundable this Chinese New Year!

CNY 2023 : Traffic Offenders Will Be Sent To Court!

On Wednesday, 17 January 2023, the Transport Minister of Malaysia, Anthony Loke, announced that seven traffic offences will be non-compoundable throughout the Chinese New Year festive season.

Motorists who commit these seven offences will no longer be allowed to just pay a fine, but will instead be referred to the courts.

Cutting queue
Overtaking on double lines
Running the red light
Driving over the speed limit
Using mobile phones while driving
Not wearing a seat belt or helmet
Driving on the emergency lane

The seven major traffic offenses are cutting queue, overtaking on double lines, disobeying the red light signal, driving over the speed limit, use of mobile phones while driving, not wearing a seat belt or helmet and driving on the emergency lane.

There will be no compound issues for these offences. Offenders will be referred to court.

To ensure stricter enforcement this year, about 2,000 JPJ enforcement officers will be deployed this Chinese New Year to reduce accidents and deaths.

Recommended : CNY 2023 : No Highway Tolls On January 20-21!

CNY 2023 : Lorries + Heavy Vehicles Banned!

He also announced that lorries and other heavy vehicles will be banned from the roads during the Chinese New Year festive season to reduce traffic congestion. The ban on heavy vehicles will last four days:

two days from January 20 to 21
two days from January 24 to 25

This prohibition is intended to avoid the risk of road accidents due to mixed traffic flow between heavy vehicles and light vehicles on the road, highways, apart from avoiding traffic jams.

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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CNY 2023 : No Highway Tolls On January 20-21!

The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, just announced that there will be no highway tolls on January 20 to 21 for Chinese New Year 2023!

CNY 2023 : No Highway Tolls On January 20-21!

On Wednesday, 18 January 2023, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, announced that there will be no highway tolls on January 20 to 21 in conjunction with Chinese New Year 2023!

In a short public announcement, he said that the Minister of Transport and the Minister of Works took the initiative to discuss the matter with the highway concessionaires across Malaysia, and they agreed not to impose any highway tolls for two days.

The toll-free travel will apply to all types of vehicles travelling on all highways in Malaysia. The toll-free period will begin at 12:01 AM on January 20, and end at midnight on January 21, 2023.

The expected financial implication of these two days of toll-free travel is estimated to be about RM40 million (US$9.2 million).

Recommended : Every Student In Malaysia To Get RM150 BAP Aid!

The Minister of Works and the Minister of Transport took the initiative to discuss with the concessionaires, who agreed to eliminate the toll charges for the 20th and 21st (of January).

We hope that by waiving the toll charges for the two days, it will allow all Malaysians to enjoy travels during the Chinese New Year. My advice to road users is to obey the law and be safe on the road.

But please be warned that during the Chinese New Year festive season, seven traffic offences will be non-compoundable, and will be referred to the courts.

Read more : CNY 2023 : Lorry Ban + Court For Traffic Offenders!

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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Updated 2022 Chinese New Year SOP For Malaysia!

The government just updated the official SOP for 2022 Chinese New Year celebrations in Malaysia!

Here is what you need to know!

2022 Chinese New Year SOP For Malaysia!

On 19 January 2022, the Ministry of National Unity released the official SOP for 2022 Chinese New Year celebrations in Malaysia!

They also issued two other SOP documents + two infographics with additional SOP, so I compiled all their rules here for your convenience. I will keep updating this article, as and when they issue new “clarifications”.

Here is a video that summarises the key points of the 2022 Chinese New Year SOP for Malaysia.

2022 Chinese New Year SOP For Malaysia : 23 January Edition

The Family Reunion Dinner is allowed on Monday, 31 January 2022.
Prayers are allowed in non-Muslim houses of worship on 1 and 2 February 2022 (Tuesday and Wednesday), according to the existing SOP under PPN Phase 4.
The special Hokkien clan prayers (Bai Tian Gong) are allowed on 8 and 9 February 2022 (Tuesday and Wednesday).
a) Prayers are allowed in non-Muslim houses of worship, according to the existing SOP under PPN Phase 4.
b) Prayers are allowed at individual house compounds at night, according to the Hokkien clan tradition.
Chap Goh Meh prayers are allowed at non-Muslim houses of worship on Tuesday, 15 February 2022, according to the existing SOP under PPN Phase 4.
You are allowed to visit family and friends from 31 January until 15 February 2022.
Chinese New Year Receptions are allowed from 31 January until 15 February 2022
a) only those who were explicitly invited are allowed to enter
b) NOT ALLOWED to members of the public who were not invited
c) continuous receptions like open houses are NOT ALLOWED
d) allowed at up to 50% venue capacity, with physical distancing
Chinese New Year receptions by companies or associations are allowed, subject to these restrictions :
a) held in a hall or restaurant,
b) limited invitations,
c) not held in public places, and
d) cannot be continuous, like an open house
Lion / dragon / tiger dance are allowed from 31 January until 15 February 2022, subject to the Creative Industry (Live Performance) SOP.

The Ministry of National Unity calls on the public to always obey the SOP, and take COVID-19 precautions like wear a face mask, maintain good hygiene and ensure physical distancing.

2022 Chinese New Year SOP For Prayers In Malaysia!

Here is the additional SOP for prayer activities at non-Muslim houses of worship during Chinese New Year 2022 :

Non-Muslim Houses of Worship must :

Open a health screening counter at the entrance, conduct a body temperature scan and look for symptoms like fever, cough, breathing difficulties and flu.
Ensure that only fully-vaccinated people are allowed to enter, by checking their digital COVID-19 vaccination certificate.
Make sure everyone is recorded using the MySejahtera application, or registers manually using the logbook.
Provide hand sanitiser at the registration counter.
Ensure that face masks are worn.

Worshippers attending prayers must :

Scan the MySejahtera QR code, or register manually using the provided logbook.
Scan their body temperature
Use the provided hand sanitiser.
Only fully-vaccinated people are allowed to enter.
Maintain a physical distance of 1 metre.
Must wear a face mask.

The government of Malaysia will take action against those who flout these SOP requirements.

Fully Vaccinated Definition

Under this SOP, you are only considered fully-vaccinated if you meet these requirements :

For vaccines that require two doses (like the Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Sinovac or Sinopharm vaccines), the individual must exceed 14 days after receiving the second dose.
For vaccines that require only one dose (like the Johnson & Johnson and CanSino vaccines), the individual must exceed 28 days after receiving the second dose.

For individuals who cannot be vaccinated on medical reasons, they must produce a medical report that has been verified by a registered medical practitioner.

Latest 2022 Chinese New Year SOP Slides : 20 January Edition

Here are the latest 2022 Chinese New Year SOP slide, as of 20 January 2022.

1 / 8

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Chinese New Year Reunion Dinner : Top Questions Answered!

People are still very confused about what’s allowed and not allowed for the Chinese New Year reunion dinner.

Fortunately, MKN just released the answers to the top 5 questions people are asking!

Chinese New Year Reunion Dinner : U-Turn After Correction

This year’s announcement on the Chinese New Year reunion dinner SOP was a masterpiece in incompetence.

The original Chinese New Year SOP was widely ridiculed, then corrected before being reversed – all in a matter of days.

Family Reunion Dinner

Allowed for one day only, on Thursday, 11 February 2021.
Up to 15 close family members may attend.
Those family members must live within a radius of 10 kilometres.
Cross-district or interstate travel is forbidden.

Even the recent announcement, which we summarised above, was so vague, many people had questions.

Chinese New Year Reunion Dinner : Top Questions Answered!

On 8 February 2021, the Malaysia National Security Council (MKN) finally released their answers to our top questions about the Chinese New Year reunion dinner :

Question #1 : Are family reunion dinners allowed?

Yes. Family reunion dinners are ALLOWED for not more than 15 close family members living within a radius of 10 km, without crossing district or state lines.

Question #2 : When are family reunion dinners allowed?

Only on Thursday, 11 February 2021.

Question #3 : If I live within 10 km but in a neighbouring district, can I still attend the family reunion dinner?

No, you are NOT allowed to cross district or state lines.

Question #4 : How many people are allowed to travel to the family reunion dinner in the same car on 11 February 2021?

According to the latest MCO SOP (updated on 4 February 2021), only TWO (2) persons may travel in the same car.

Question #5 : How do you define close family members?

Close family members allowed at the family reunion dinners :

husband and wife
parents
children
brothers and sisters

Chinese New Year Reunion Dinner : More Changes Expected

This is yet another clarification that brooks more questions than it answers.

Why Two Persons Per Car?

What’s the point of restricting families to only two persons per car?

How does that help prevent the spread of COVID-19? After all, they are from the same family!

All this rule does is force families to drive multiple vehicles to attend the dinner.

Why Forbid Inter-District Travel?

The 10 km limit should be sufficient to restrict travel, even though this really isn’t even enforceable.

Forbidding inter-district travel for the Chinese New Year reunion dinner does not help to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection.

Infected people spread COVID-19 – it doesn’t matter if they travel across districts, or within the district.

Either the government bans the reunion dinner completely, or allow it with inter-district travel. It really doesn’t make any difference.

Close Family Definition Too Vague

The close family definition is still too vague. MKN should have just made it simple and clear by just saying no friends allowed.

Right now, a strict reading of the FAQ means that brothers-in-law or sisters-in-law, cousins, nephews and nieces are not allowed.

We foresee them “clarifying” the definition later, to something simpler and yet more clear-cut like parents, brothers and sisters of the family, including their children.

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Chinese New Year U-Turn Invites More Questions!

Malaysia just reversed their Chinese New Year restrictions for the MCO lockdown.

Find out what’s changed, and why this new CNY SOP just invites more questions!

Malaysia Reverses Chinese New Year Restrictions!

After their original Chinese New Year restrictions were ridiculed, the Malaysia National Security Council (MKN) corrected and then reversed their decision today.

Here is a summary of what’s NOW allowed for Chinese New Year in Malaysia :

Family Reunion Dinner

Allowed for one day only, on Thursday, 11 February 2021.
Up to 15 close family members may attend.
Those family members must live within a radius of 10 kilometres.
Cross-district or interstate travel is forbidden.

Religious Activities

Allowed on three days only – 11, 12 and 19 February 2021.
Up to 30 people may be present at any one time.
They must all wear face masks, and physically distance.
Every prayer session can last up to 30 minutes, and must be followed by sanitation for 30 minutes, before the next prayer session.
Prayers can last from 6 AM until 2 PM.
Home prayers on the night of 19 February 2021 are allowed for the Hokkien Clan (Pai Ti Kong).

Third Chinese New Year SOP : More Questions!

This is the third MCO SOP for Chinese New Year 2021, and may not be the last.

For some reason, the government neglected Chap Goh Meh – the last day of Chinese New Year, which is also a significant date.

If they want to ban Chap Goh Meh celebrations, please state so, and say it clearly.

But even more critically, they did not clarify whether the inter-district or interstate travel restrictions include the Klang Valley.

After all, many areas in the Klang Valley are in close proximity, even if they cross district and state lines.

For example, Damansara Perdana and Mutiara Damansara (which are in Selangor) are right next to TTDI (in Kuala Lumpur), separated only by the LDP highway. Will crossing the state and district lines between these adjoining areas be allowed?

Finally, there’s no mention of whether more than two people are allowed to travel in the same car for the reunion dinner, which 15 people can now attend.

So we expect the government to “further clarify” their Chinese New Year SOP going forward…

Note : MKN just clarified their SOP on Chinese New Year reunion dinners!

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Malaysia “Corrects” SOP For Chinese New Year!

Malaysia just issued a “corrected” SOP for Chinese New Year, replacing the original version which was roundly mocked by netizens.

Take a look at this newly “corrected” SOP for Chinese New Year 2021!

MKN just reversed their decision! Please see Malaysia Reverses Chinese New Year Restrictions!

Chinese New Year SOP : First Version Was A Joke!

When the Malaysia National Security Council (MKN) announced the Chinese New Year SOP for 2021, it was roundly mocked by netizens for its absurd rules.

For example, it told family members of the same household to visit each other! This meme shows just how absurd the suggestion was.

Malaysia “Corrects” SOP For Chinese New Year!

Just one day later, MKN issued a new, “corrected” SOP for Chinese New Year!

The SOP now applies for the three days – 11, 12 and 19* February 2021.
The family is now asked to celebrate at home, instead of visiting each other in the same house.
The family reunion dinner is only allowed for family members residing in the same house.
The arbitrary limit of 20 people in the same house, was removed.
The ridiculous requirement to physically distance in the household was removed.
The absurd prohibition for family members to greet or touch each other was removed.
No one is allowed to go to temples and houses of worship.
Lion / dragon dance is forbidden.
Tanglung and Chingay parades are forbidden.
Chinese opera and stage shows are forbidden.
Pre-celebration sales are only allowed in selected premises. Online purchase is encouraged.

* 19th February is when Pai Ti Kong (Bai Tian Gong) is celebrated by the Hokkien people.

This strict stay-at-home Chinese New Year SOP will mean that all Chinese families will have to celebrate by themselves, without an actual reunion dinner.

The government should really KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) by banning gatherings and visitations for all 16 days of Chinese New Year – from the eve to Chap Goh Meh.

By only highlighting those 3 days, it opens up the possibility of people misinterpreting the SOP to mean that it’s okay to have reunion dinners or visitations on the other days of Chinese New Year.

Please stay safe, everyone, so that we can celebrate Chinese New Year with our family and friends next year!

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Chinese New Year SOP For MCO Lacks Common Sense

The Malaysia National Security Council just announced the MCO SOP for Chinese New Year, and it lacks common sense, or an understanding of Chinese culture.

Take a look at their Chinese New Year SOP, and see for yourself why it really doesn’t make much sense…

Chinese New Year : SOP For MCO Areas

Here is the SOP that was just released for the celebration of Chinese New Year in MCO areas – basically all of Malaysia, except Sarawak.

The SOP applies for the first two days of Chinese New Year – 12 and 13 February 2021
Not more than 20 people are allowed in the house, with physical distancing
The family reunion dinner is only allowed for family members residing in the same house.
Visitation is only allowed for family members residing in the same house.
No one is allowed to greet or touch each other.
No one is allowed to go to temples and houses of worship.
Lion / dragon dance is forbidden.
Tanglung and Chingay parades are forbidden.
Chinese opera and stage shows are forbidden.
Open houses are forbidden.

Note : This SOP has just been corrected. See Malaysia “Corrects” SOP For Chinese New Year!

Chinese New Year SOP For MCO Lacks Common Sense

Now, let us share with you why the Chinese New Year SOP lacks common sense, or an understanding of Chinese culture.

Reason #1 : Chinese New Year Lasts 15 Days

Chinese New Year actually lasts 15 days, ending with the Lantern Festival. But in reality, it lasts 16 days, because it actually kicks off on the eve.

But the point is that if the SOP only covers the first two days, then it cannot apply to the Tanglung (Lantern) Festival, which takes place on the last day (15th day) of Chinese New Year!

Neither would the SOP apply to the Chingay Parade, which happens on the 21st day of the Lunar New Year in Johor Bahru, 12 December 2021 in Penang island and 19 December 2021 in Prai, Penang.

Reason #2 : Family Reunion Dinner Is On CNY Eve!

The family reunion dinner happens not on the first or second day of Chinese New Year, but on its eve – the night before!

Technically, Malaysians will not be flouting the SOP if they gather on the eve (11 February 2021) for their family reunion dinner.

Also, it is only a reunion dinner if extended family members attend. Otherwise, it’s just a regular family dinner.

Photo Credit : CGTN

Reason #3 : Chinese New Year Eve Is A Cultural Event

Chinese New Year is a cultural event, not a religious event. It is celebrated by Chinese people of ALL religions, or none at all.

There is no requirement to attend church, visit a temple, or go to a mosque, on Chinese New Year.

So the SOP on religious gatherings or visits is really irrelevant, and shows their lack of understanding.

Reason #4 : Visitation In The Same Home Is Nonsensical

It is nonsensical to tell people living in the same house to visit each other. This probably only happens in Among Us.

Reason #5 : Capacity Limit In The Same House Is Nonsensical

It is also nonsensical to put an arbitrary limit of 20 people, when the SOP insists that they must all be living in the same house!

If they are all living in the same house, why does it matter if there are 5, 20, or 100 people?

Anyone sick with COVID-19 would have infected other members of the family, long before Chinese New Year!

Reason #6 : No Greeting Or Touching Family Members Is Nonsensical

It is nonsensical to insist that family members cannot greet or touch each other, when they are all LIVING IN THE SAME HOUSE!

How is that going to help prevent COVID-19 spread within the same house???

Does the government also expect husband and wife to sleep separately during the first two days of Chinese New Year?

Reason #7 : Physical Distancing In The Same House Is Nonsensical

This should have been obvious to our government officials – physical distancing in the same house is as asinine as physical distancing in a car.

Those living in the same house have already been in close contact for more than a year. How does it help to separate everyone by 1-2 metres for just two days during Chinese New Year?

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Lunar New Year Online Shopping Tips From Kaspersky

Every festive season turns into a shopping frenzy, and the action has moved increasingly online. With the convenience of online payment and in-app purchases, with delivery to your door, comes the very real risk of cybercrime, with you as the target. So here are some online shopping tips from Kaspersky!

Everyone loves a great deal during the Lunar New Year, and throughout the year. For cyber criminals, your frenzied shopping to get all the items you need delivered before the festivities begin is a prime opportunity. This is because in the euphoria and adrenaline rush of shopping, you will be more likely to make basic mistakes that can expose your personal data.

General Manager for Kaspersky Lab Southeast Asia, Sylvia Ng explained that the brand understands festive season shopping is a priority for consumers but reminds that it is also a prime opportunity for cyber criminals.

“Get your shopping done safely. Sipping on an espresso at a local coffee house and doing your Internet shopping does seems convenient. However, you open yourself up to criminal activity by doing so. Public Wi-Fi networks are often less secure than private ones, and you risk the possibility of logging onto a phantom network instead of the real one, opening you up to potential identity theft”.

Everyone needs to be wary of public Wi-Fi when using your smartphones and tablets. If you have to do your shopping on any Wi-Fi network, you first need to ensure that it is secure and a network you can trust. Cyber criminals know consumers are more likely to visit sites with login accounts or financial information during busy shopping times.

They can easily monitor all the information sent across public Wi-Fi networks, which can include your bank account or credit card number. Is that deal really so attractive that you are willing to put your online identity and finances at risk? Probably not.

Lunar New Year Online Shopping Tips

This year, don’t let your last minute shopping frenzy lead you down a path of bad security decisions. Here are some common mistakes, and how you can avoid them.

Check that you are using the authentic website of your bank or payment system – this should be obvious, but it is a common mistake that can be very costly!
Pay attention to the https prefix, which indicates an encrypted connection – makes a world of difference.
Check the spelling of the website – a misspelled address is an obvious sign of a fake phishing page.
Use that virtual keyboards to protect your password from being intercepted by key loggers.

Also, consider the following when shopping online:

Avoid ransomware — don’t open email attachments from unknown shopping sites, and always back up your files.

Be aware of phishing links — don’t click on unexpected links sent via email, SMS, or messengers.

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Create strong passwords — combine letters, number and special characters to make them harder to hack.

Shop at safe sites — browse reviews before trusting online shopping sites with your credit card info.

Avoid shopping on public Wi-Fi — criminals love to snoop for your credentials in unsecured wireless networks.

Turn off Bluetooth, connect via cellular — these simple steps will make your smartphone connection much more secure.

Deny suspicious freeware — these ‘gifts’ might include adware or something even worse.

Avoid forged shipping confirmation emails — it could be a phishers’ bait for a quick click.

“These tips that we share are culled from real-life experiences of people. So, before you click on any deal, make sure that you are going to trusted sites. If you find a deal that seems too good to be true, it probably is,” added Sylvia Ng.

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The Maxis HuatAR Ang Pao App Brings “Huat” To Life!

This year, Maxis is re-imagining the way you experience the lion dance with the HuatAR Ang Pao, a first-of-its-kind ang pao packet that helps bring ‘Ah Huat’ the lion to life using augmented reality. Beyond watching the lion dance, now you can be part of it – through the Maxis HuatAR App!

“At Maxis, we believe that this auspicious season and its positive symbols should be shared with as many people as possible. With the HuatAR campaign, we are turning the lion dance, commonly representing good fortune and prosperity, into an accessible experience with the power of technology. Using augmented reality – or AR, in short – customers can now usher in the Chinese New Year in a truly innovative and entertaining way,” said Tai Kam Leong, Head of Brand and Partnerships.

The Maxis HuatAR Ang Pao App

Nothing signifies Chinese New Year like the traditional lion dance which ushers good fortune and prosperity – summed up as huat – into the home during the festive season. The Maxis HuatAR Ang Pow app brings Ah Huat, the lion, to life using augment reality!

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Here’s how the HuatAR ang paos work:

Upon receiving the ang pao, scan the QR code located on the flap to download the HuatAR app on Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
Install and open the HuatAR app and scan the front of the ang pao
Ah Huat is immediately brought to life on your mobile screen!

The Maxis’ HuatAR ang paos come in three designs– red, gold and pink – inspired by key aspects of life. Each ang pao design initiates a unique ‘Ah Huat’ with its own special dance move.

To receive a set of these unique ang paos, customers just need to make a purchase at any Maxis Centre or from Maxis Exclusive Partners (MEPs) beginning today, 1 February. Right now, customers can choose from a wide range of devices from Samsung, Huawei, Oppo and more for just RM1, when they sign up for a MaxisONE Share Line for a loved one.

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7 Reasons The 2017 Galaxy A Series Puts The A In Auspicious!

The much awaited Chinese New Year is just around the corner and everyone who celebrates this festive occasion will be making their way home to be reunited with their beloved families. After all, it is a new opportunity to turn over a new leaf, embark on a new unplanned journey or just look forward to a brand new year of excitement.

7 Reasons The 2017 Galaxy A Series Puts The A In Auspicious!

Samsung’s newly launched 2017 Galaxy A Series (Lazada, Amazon) can help brighten your Chinese New Year celebration – here’s how…

1. Celebrate Non-stop in Rain or Shine

These days, the weather gets unpredictable. If you are suddenly caught in the rain, you will have a peace of mind knowing that your new Samsung Galaxy A Series (2017) (Lazada, Amazon) will remain operational, unscathed even in the rain. How? This is the first Galaxy A Series that is rated IP68, making it resistant to dust and water, for those carefree Chinese New year house visits, rain or shine! That way, you don’t have to worry about the gloomy skies and the sounds of thunder. Celebrate non-stop this Chinese New Year!

2. No TV, No Problem

With kids constantly switching to Disney Channel, don’t be sad if you don’t get the chance to hold the TV remote to catch up on your favourite Hong Kong drama. Be the master of your own entertainment and stream your favourite festive contents this Chinese New Year using your new 2017 Galaxy A Series which now sports a Full HD Super AMOLED Display.

The 2017 Galaxy A Series (Lazada, Amazon) boasts vivid 5.7-inch (A7) and 5.2-inch (A5) Super AMOLED screen displays for your non-stop entertainment, so you never miss an episode of your favourite TV series wherever you are. Maybe, just maybe, your younger nephews and nieces will start to inch closer to you and join you, mesmerised by the smartphone screen’s vivid display!

3. #FestiveSelfies, #OOTD & #CNYHoChiak

Take that family wefie during Reunion Dinner with the whole family gathering around the table. Sneak in a shameless selfie or two with gorgeous #OOTDs, or dive deeper into your inner photographer and start taking pictures of mouth-watering CNY dishes to fill your #CNY2017 photo album. With 16 preloaded filters inside, your Instagram page will be Instafamous in no time!

The Samsung Galaxy A Series (2017) (Lazada, Amazon) comes equipped with 16MP front and rear camera with f1.9 lens and Light+ feature that can help you snap all those precious moments even in lowlight conditions. Instantly share these photos on Facebook, and get started on tagging your many family members!

4. No Cash, No Worries

Seeing your closest relatives and cousins this Chinese New Year? How about taking your little cousins out to the nearest shopping mall, and buy them a meal when they least expect an unplanned surprise? Now, with Samsung Pay, payments are never the same again! Just swipe up on your Galaxy A device, select your preferred payment card, authenticate with your fingerprint or PIN number, and tap the device on the payment terminal! Make secure and convenient mobile payments anywhere and look cool doing it while the rest of the queue looks on enviously!

5. Style You Can Afford

To add a touch of style, the Samsung Galaxy A Series (2017) (Lazada, Amazon) with its premium build can definitely add some sparkle to your festive get-up. The Gold Sand model radiates youth and prosperity whilst the Black Sky is a colour option that exudes a mysteriously classy and elegant aura. Measuring at 7.9mm thin, this slim device can fit into any pocket and look dashing on any palm! Now when relatives ask you what’s new, whip out your 2017 Galaxy A Series (Lazada, Amazon) and wave it like the fashionista that you are!

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6. Powering You Through The Day

Family visits are part of the CNY trend. You’ll continue from one house to the other, and the next thing you know, your power bank is almost drained and you’re scrambling to find a power outlet to recharge your device. Fret not because the Samsung Galaxy A Series (2017) (Lazada, Amazon) comes with bigger batteries and supports fast charging! Just plug in your device to a power source and be amazed at how quickly your battery power restores just so that the device can keep you company throughout the day. The Galaxy A7 (2017) comes with 3,600mAh while the Galaxy A5 (2017) comes with 3,000mAh battery capacity.

7. More Space, More Memories

With dozens of people to celebrate this Chinese New Year with, naturally you would worry if your smartphone will run out space when it comes to capturing great moments. With the new Samsung Galaxy A Series (2017) (Lazada, Amazon), get expandable storage of up to 256GB to fit all your memories (and silly selfies with family and friends) into a single, handy device. That’s right, there’s no need to free up some space. Keep all your favourite memories on the go!

Want An Auspicious New Year?

The new 2017 Galaxy A Series (Lazada, Amazon) is available at all Samsung brand stores nationwide from 25^th January 2017 onwards at a recommended retail price of RM1,899 / ~US$ 419 (Galaxy A7 2017) and RM1,699 / ~US$ 369 (Galaxy A5 2017) inclusive of GST.

What are you waiting for? Join the in-store pre-order and be the first to own the new 2017 Galaxy A Series (Lazada, Amazon), even before Chinese New Year! Head to selected Samsung participating outlets from now until 22^nd January 2017 to place an order and receive a complimentary Samsung Level U Pro wireless headphones worth RM399. Pre-order collection will start on 25^th January 2017.

For online pre-orders, check out Samsung’s online stores on Lazada and 11street.

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Lenovo #KamKaiPoHei Promotion For CNY 2017

Malaysia, 18 January 2017 – In the festive spirit of the Chinese year of the Rooster, Lenovo Mobile is giving out prizes worth up to RM33,888 through its Lenovo KamKaiPoHei Promotion Campaign. From now till 5 February, a purchase of selected Lenovo or Moto smartphones from any authorized retailer store nationwide will allow consumers to participate in the campaign’s contest and lucky draw to stand a chance to walk away with attractive prizes.

Lenovo KamKaiPoHei Promotion Campaign

Country Manager for Smartphone at Lenovo Technology Sdn Bhd, Lydia Foo Mun Yee, commented that the Lenovo #KamKaiPohHei promotional campaign is part of Lenovo’s efforts to thank its customers and celebrate new beginnings in 2017 together.

“The phrase Kam Kai Poh Hei is a Chinese Cantonese slang, loosely translating that the Golden Rooster is here announcing auspicious news to kick start the lunar new year. With Chinese New Year round the corner, we at Lenovo would like to take this opportunity to thank and reward our customers for their support. From now till 5 February, with every purchase of either the Lenovo P2, Lenovo K6 Note, Lenovo K6 Power, Lenovo A6600 Plus, Moto Z, Moto Z Play or Moto M, you will stand a chance to win attractive prizes, and a Grand Prize of a 40” LED HDTV!” said Foo.

Grand Prizes from the campaign include electrical home appliances such as 40” LED HDTV, washing machine, refrigerator and sound bar system. Other prizes include daily hamper prizes worth RM199 each, and instant gifts of shopping vouchers and merchandise such as Skullcandy earphones, memory cards, Nut trackers and etc. redeemable at the store. The Lenovo #KamKaiPohHei campaign is made up of three engagements i.e. Shop & Win Contest, Yuen Bao Golden Egg Lucky Draw and Tongue Twister Challenge.

Shop & Win Contest

Purchase selected Lenovo or Moto smartphones from any authorized retailer store
Answer two questions, sms the answers and personal details to 66688
Winners will be contacted for verification; note that the original receipt will need to be retained as proof of purchase

‘Yuen Bao’ Golden Egg Lucky Draw

Customers who purchase selected Lenovo or Moto smartphones from any authorized retailer store are eligible to draw a Golden Egg and redeem an additional gift in-store

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Adding on to the #KamKaiPohHei campaign is the fun and engaging Tongue Twister Challenge contest, where 10 winners will each walk away with a brand new Lenovo A6600 Plus smartphone worth RM479! No purchase is needed to enter this challenge, all participants will need to do is:

Record a video of themselves reciting either one of the tongue twister phrases below
(In English) – “Get a super golden rooster booster this Chinese New Year when the chooser chooses to participate in the Lenovo promo like a pro!”
(In Mandarin) – “无论是火鸡烤鸡炸鸡母鸡金鸡, 你都炫不过Lenovo超强智能手机, 因为金机报喜一机在手抢尽先机!”
Submit the video on Lenovo Mobile Malaysia Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LenovoMobileMalaysia and tag Lenovo Malaysia
Hashtag #LenovoKamKeiPoHei, and tag 2 friends

As a bonus, participants who walk in, record and post the tongue twister video at any participating Lenovo brand store will be given a pair of free Skullcandy earphones on the spot.

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HONOR Malaysia CNY 2017 Ang Pao Giveaway

Kuala Lumpur, 13 January 2017 – The Year of the Rooster is upon us and Honor Malaysia is riding on the festivities by giving away CNY 2017 ang pao packets to Honor fans!

As a token of appreciation to fans and as a way to bring in a good start to the New Year of 2017, Honor Malaysia wants to wish its customers prosperity for the rest of the year by handing out the iconic red packets during Chinese New Year. Customers can head to any of the stores listed below to ask for an ang pao.

And for those that have budgeting as a New Year’s resolution, fret not, as anyone is entitled to receive the ang pao without any purchase!

Honor Malaysia wants to ensure that everyone gets the chance to celebrate Chinese New Year in 2017. All you have to do is take out your smartphone and head to Facebook and Instagram to “like” Honor Malaysia’s pages.

Facebook : www.facebook.com/HuaweiHonorMY, Instagram : @honormalaysia, www.instagram.com/honormalaysia.

We hope to see you with the red packets in hand soon!

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Limited Edition Kingston Rooster USB Drive Announced!

Hsinchu, 12 January 2017 – To celebrate the Lunar New Year, Kingston today announced The Year of the Rooster USB drive, the latest addition to its Data Traveler Chinese Zodiac USB drive lineup. Build with metallic rose-gold hue and USB 3.1 speeds, the Year of the Rooster USB drive has superior quality in a high-end design, which makes it a special gift for the joyful season.

Kingston Rooster USB Drive

Kingston Data Traveler Chinese Zodiac USB drive lineup has been one of the most popular products among collectors over the years. This year, the laser cut-out Rooster USB drive comes in a unique-designed red-themed box. Shipping now, the simple plug-and-play drive with fast USB 3.1 performance offers convenient and easily transportable storage for pictures, music, video and other important data files.

With a capacity of 32GB *, the Year of the Rooster USB drive is backed by a 5-year warranty, free technical support, and legendary Kingston reliability.

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Limited Edition Kingston Rooster Features & Specifications

Dimensions : 47mm x 29mm x 8mm
Compliant : USB 3.1
Capacity : 32GB
OS Compatibility : Windows10, 8.1, 8, 7(SP1), Vista(SP2), Mac OS X v.10.7.x+, Linux v 2.6.x+, Chrome OS
Part Number : DTCNY17/32GB
Warranty / Support : 5-year warranty with free technical support

* Some of the listed capacity on a Flash storage device is used for formatting and other functions and thus is not available for data storage. As such, the actual available capacity for data storage is less than what is listed on the products.

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