[Letter to the Editor] Chinese New Year in Sarawak is for all races, not just Chinese – social activist

Letter to the editor — DayakDaily.com file pic. // Photo: Pixabay

Letter to the Editor

By Peter John Jaban

Happy Chinese New Year to all Malaysians.

Every year when Chinese New Year arrives in Sarawak, I am reminded of something powerful: celebration here has never belonged to one race alone. It is a festival beyond ethnicity and a shared experience. This is the Sarawak I know.

In Sarawak, belonging is not about how you look; it is about who you stand with.

Growing up, Chinese New Year was never “their” festival. It was ours — Sarawakians’.

I remember stepping into homes glowing with red lanterns, the scent of freshly prepared dishes filling the air, elders smiling as children ran about in new clothes. The reunion dinner was sacred, not just for tradition, but because it represented family, forgiveness, and continuity. Even as a guest, we were never treated as outsiders.

When we tossed yee sang high into the air and wished one another prosperity, it was more than ritual. It was shared optimism for the year ahead.

What moves me most is how natural unity feels in Sarawak. No one needs to organise interracial harmony. Iban families celebrate alongside Chinese neighbours. Malay friends drop by open houses. Christian Chinese begin the season with thanksgiving services. Buddhist families visit temples. Muslim Chinese prepare halal reunion dinners while keeping red lanterns glowing brightly in their homes.

This is not staged unity or a campaign. It is daily life.

I have personally witnessed Muslim Chinese families blending Islamic faith with Chinese cultural heritage with quiet confidence. They observe religious obligations while honouring ancestral traditions such as pantang (taboos), exchanging ang pow, gathering for reunion dinners, and respecting elders. There is no identity crisis, only harmony.

Even more striking are children of mixed parentage, some with European features — what we casually call ‘Ang Mo Lang’ or ‘orang putih’. Fair-skinned with sharp features, yet speaking local slang, laughing in Foochow, Hokkien or Iban, and eagerly celebrating Chinese New Year as if it is written into their bones.

Their presence quietly declares that in Sarawak, belonging is not about appearance but about who you stand with.

Some Iban families celebrate Chinese New Year because of intermarriage, while others do so simply because they grew up together with Chinese friends. Here in Sarawak, relationships are stronger than racial lines.

One of the most remarkable sights for outsiders during Chinese New Year is seeing young Iban boys playing drums and performing the lion dance with incredible skill. Their movements are precise, their energy infectious, and many surprise onlookers by speaking fluent Mandarin while keeping perfect rhythm with the drums and cymbals.

Equally fascinating is how many Sarawakian Indians converse effortlessly in Hokkien, greeting neighbours warmly, joining in the laughter, and enjoying traditional snacks such as bak kwa and pineapple tarts.

Children from different backgrounds grow up understanding that identity is shaped by belonging and shared experience, not ancestry.

In Sarawak, Chinese New Year is not just a Chinese festival; it is a communal experience. Children from different backgrounds learn each other’s customs, take part in performances, and grow up knowing that identity is shaped by belonging and shared experience, not ancestry.

Seeing fair-skinned “Ang Mo Kia” children tossing yee sang alongside Dayak, Malay, Indian and Chinese friends reminds us that unity is lived naturally, not preached.

These scenes illustrate Sarawak’s unique harmony. Multiculturalism is not staged; it is practised daily in longhouses, towns, streets and homes where doors and hearts are open. Outsiders may be surprised, but for those of us who grew up here, such cultural blending is ordinary yet profoundly beautiful.

Here, culture is shared, experienced and celebrated together. A child’s laughter in Mandarin, an elder nodding over Hokkien phrases, or the beat of a lion dance in a longhouse define the unique spirit of Chinese New Year in Sarawak. Unity is not a slogan. It is practised quietly, joyfully and sincerely.

During open houses, halal food is thoughtfully prepared. Respect comes naturally. No one feels uncomfortable. We do not just co-exist; we participate in each other’s joy.

Culture does not have to compete, faith does not erase tradition, and differences do not threaten unity.

As Chinese New Year draws to a close, Hari Raya is just around the corner. I hope the same spirit of openness, respect and shared celebration will continue. Just as families of different backgrounds gather for reunion dinners and exchange greetings during Chinese New Year, perhaps we can embrace Hari Raya with the same warmth — welcoming neighbours and friends of all faiths to share in the joy.

As Chinese New Year ends, Hari Raya reminds us that unity is not seasonal; it is a way of life.

In a world increasingly divided by identity, Sarawak quietly teaches something profound. Every Chinese New Year here is not just a celebration of a new lunar cycle; it is a celebration of shared humanity.

And that, to me, is the true prosperity of Sarawak.

Peter John Jaban is the founder of Saya Anak Sarawak.

This is the personal opinion of the author(s) and does not necessarily represent the views of DayakDaily. Letters to the Editor may be lightly edited for clarity.

— DayakDaily