KUCHING, Jan 9: The Chinese Martial Art Association (CMAA) has unveiled five new lions to welcome the coming Chinese New Year (CNY) celebration through an eye-dotting ceremony today.
The ritual was officiated by Deputy Chief Minister Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian and accompanied by CMAA president Chester Lim, and the Tua Pek Kong Temple members.
Lim enthused that the five new lions are exclusive models with traditional designs and finishing.
“Each lion represents the various heroes from the Three Kingdoms era, mainly Liu Bei (rainbow colours), Guan Yu (red), Zhang Fei (black), and the characteristics of brotherhood, honour, valour, justice, benevolence, loyalty, and righteousness associated with them,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Sim, who participated in the prayer and offering ceremony, commended CMAA for its tireless efforts to promote Chinese culture and tradition over the last 47 years since 1974.
He said the association had also been active through development programmes in dragon-lion dance and wushu with the strong support of its members, patrons, parents, schools and related government agencies.
Also present at the new lions’ eye dotting ceremony were CMAA advisor Emeritus Datuk Yong Khoon Seng, CMAA founder advisor Master Law Kaw Chai, and patrons Kapitan Tan Kun Gee, Thomas Liu Thiam Naw, Frank Kong, Gerald Goh, and Sih Hua Tong.
Devotees at the Tua Pek Kong Temple were treated to an impromptu sneak preview performance by the resplendently dressed CMAA Lion Dance Team with the new lions ready for the coming festive celebration. — DayakDaily
